A £2.2m bridge upgrade on the A82 is set to get underway following the award of the works contract for the Ba Bridge replacement Transport Minister, Stewart Stevenson, announced today.

Transport Scotland has awarded the contract to RJ MacLeod, who will undertake replacement of the existing narrow sub-standard bridge with a new modern and safer structure.

Mr Stevenson said: "This Government is committed to investing in improvements on the A82 and this project is just one of a number of upgrades scheduled for the A82 in the coming months.

"This vital work will improve road conditions and safety on the A82 as well as improve transport links to northern Scotland and our island communities.

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"This announcement underpins this Government’s commitment to implementing the A82 route action plan, including measures such as road widening at selected locations between Tarbert and Inverarnan and between Corran Ferry and Fort William, as well as climbing lanes and overtaking lay-bys, road alignments, junction improvements, and hard strips."

The works are expected to start in January 2010 and take 12 months to complete. A temporary road and bridge will be established adjacent to the existing route to allow traffic to continue to use the A82 while these works are being undertaken.

Due to the location of the bridge within an environmental conservation area, extra care is being taken to plan these works in harmony with the diverse local ecology.

A mixture of safety, maintenance and project improvements are proposed for the A82 over the coming year.

Some of the intended works for the route include verge safety fencing between Tarbet and Fort William, traffic signal improvements at Inverlochy Junction, a lighting replacement scheme at North Road, Fort William, and additional bridge strengthening and minor bridge works on a number of crossings along the route.

(GK/BMcC)