Repair programme for bridge being drawn up
Scottish Water assessment
Scottish Water were this week finalising a repair programme for the damaged bridge near Balfron Station.
The A81 Glasgow-to-Aberfoyle road, which runs beneath the bridge, has been closed there since September 28.
It suffered serious structural damage when it was hit by the arm of a JCB excavator which was on the back of a lowloader travelling under the bridge.
Scottish Water owns the bridge which carries water mains pipes from Loch Katrine to water treatment works in the Glasgow area. The pipes were undamaged in the accident.
A spokesman for Scottish Water said they had been carrying out a detailed assessment of the damage to the bridge but were not in a position, as yet, to say when the road would re-open.
“We have done everything we can to complete our inspection and surveys of damage to the bridge as quickly as possible and are now finalising our planned programme for the repair work,” said a company spokesman.
“When we have completed those plans for the repairs we will inform residents and road users as quickly as possible.
“We will do everything we can to minimise any inconvenience. However, the repair work will involve some quite substantial civil engineering works and further road traffic management will be required to enable that work to be carried out.
“We apologise to road users affected by the road closure and thank them for their continued patience and understanding.”
Scottish Water say the bridge will remain closed to through traffic for the time being and it is likely that significant road traffic management will be required during the repair work.
Diversions are in operation via the B834, A809 and A811 travelling north and the same in reverse travelling south.
A 36-year-old man from the Stirling area has been reported to the procurator fiscal for alleged careless driving beneath the bridge, which has a height restriction of four and a half metres.