New bridge opens in Scotland

A new £1.8 million bridge at Allt Chonoglais in Scotland has been finished ahead of schedule.

The bridge is one of the largest in a £24 million bridge improvement programme for the A82. It crosses the River Kinglass just south of Bridge of Orchy and is now open to traffic. It has been built to meet modern standards and help future proof the A82 trunk road through the north west of Scotland.

Transport Minister Keith Brown said: “Allt Chonoglais is a remarkable structure and its design has allowed features from the original 1932 bridge, including locally sourced granite, to have been retained on the new 40m span bridge. The design has also ensured we have met the demands of modern day traffic on the A82 without the need to make changes that would impact on the habitat of the riverbank below, including retaining the original bridge supports.

“The final stage of the scheme, which has been delivered on budget and ahead of schedule, underlines the significant engineering challenge faced during the bridge build, with a 750 tonne crane used to lift a temporary bridge away in sections.”