Kessock Bridge listed as Category B historic structure

The Kessock Bridge near Inverness has been awarded Category B status by Historic Environment Scotland (HES) after it was recognised as being of special architectural interest.

A major piece of 20th-century engineering, it was the first multi-cable-stayed bridge to be built in the United Kingdom and at the time of its completion in 1982 was the largest of its type in Europe.

The Drochaid Ceasaig/Kessock Bridge was also among the first to apply ‘quakeproof’ technology, designed to allow for seismic and geological movement from the Great Glen fault.

This is the third bridge in Scotland to be listed by HES in the past 12 months, following the Erskine Bridge and Drochaid a’ Chaolais Chumhaing/Kylesku Bridge.

The Kessock Bridge won the combined design and construction Saltire Award in 1983, the year after it opened to traffic.

Elizabeth McCrone, head of designations at HES, said: ‘I’m delighted another example of Scotland’s remarkable heritage of bridge construction has become a listed structure.

‘One of the many innovations of the Kessock Bridge was its ability to withstand extreme weather and earthquakes resulting from the Great Glen geological fault. It also contributed significantly to driving economic growth, making travel between Inverness and the far northeast significantly easier.’

The listing follows a consultation run by HES earlier this year, where members of the public were invited to express their views on recognising the bridge with listed status.