Bridge is latest stage of Road to the Isles upgrade

A newly built bridge eight miles west of Glenfinnan has opened to traffic following 10 months of construction work.

The bridge, part of a £10 million commitment from Transport Scotland to enhance road safety, is the sixth of nine to be completed on the scenic A830 route connecting Fort William and Mallaig.

Wider carriageways and verges have been introduced on the new and improved bridge to cope with current demand.

A low-maintenance approach allows for any future changes to the arterial link to be accommodated with minimal disruption to road users and the community.

Eddie Ross of roads contractor Bear Scotland said: “As with the previous bridges, we’ve made sure to limit any impact to motorists as much as possible by constructing a temporary bridge to ensure access on the A830 was maintained at all times.

“We hope the local community will be pleased vehicle with the new bridge at Criche, and we thank them for their patience over the last 10 months.”

The Criche Bridge reused materials from a disused masonry bridge opposite to the carriageway to ensure its look was in keeping with the scenic surroundings.

Stone was also used from the disused masonry arch bridge to aid in the construction of a habitat for bats displaced by the demolition.

Work is set to begin on the Shlatach rail bridge in Glenfinnan towards the end of the year.

BRIDGING THE GENERATION GAP: Stone was reused from the old bridge so the new one fits in to its surroundings