New Bernera Bridge welcomed

The official opening of the new Bernera Bridge has been welcomed by Alasdair Allan, SNP MSP for Na h-Eileanan an Iar, who attended the opening ceremony last week.

Despite additional celebration events being cancelled due to the current Covid-19 situation, there was an excellent turnout at the bridge’s opening ceremony.

In February this year, Mr Allan campaigned for funding to be allocated to allow for a replacement bridge to be built between the island of Bernera and the rest of Lewis.

Cabinet secretary for finance and the economy Kate Forbes confirmed in her February budget update that an additional £32 million would be provided to help rebuild and maintain key lifeline bridges such as the Great Bernera bridge.

And it has recently been confirmed £2.62m of the £3.1m cost of the replacement bridge will be met by this Scottish Government funding. Work began in March after serious structural defects were discovered in August 2020, leading to an immediate 7.5 tonne weight limit being introduced on the original bridge. Commenting after the bridge’s opening ceremony, Mr Allan said he was delighted the Bernera Bridge replacement had been completed and was open to the public. ‘Projects such as this are incredibly important for island communities and I am glad the Scottish Government provided the necessary support for the Bernera Bridge replacement as well as many other lifeline bridges across Scotland,’ he said.

‘I congratulate the comhairle, the contractors and engineers for their tireless work on this project and residents and businesses for their patience during this period of disruption.’