Up to £7 million is being invested to upgrade 11 railway bridges in Dumbarton.

Work is being carried out to 11 structures as part of Network Rail's Railway Upgrade Plan.

So far, work has been completed on five structures including addressing drainage issues within Dalreoch tunnel and the £1.2m refurbishment of Leven viaduct. Work on a further two structures at Buchanan Street, Dumbarton and Bank Street, Alexandria will be complete by the end of November and take the programme past its halfway point.

Planning for work in 2018, which includes a £1m refurbishment of the railway bridge at Church Street Dumbarton, is already well advanced. Overall, the programme is scheduled for completion by 2019.

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Billy McKay, Network Rail Programme Manager for the bridge refurbishments in the Dumbarton area said: "We will shortly complete work on two of the bridges on the programme which takes us passed the half way point of the work to refurbish these structures in and around Dumbarton.

"We have a responsibility to maintain and preserve these bridges, not just for the safe and efficient operation of the railway, but also how they look in their setting for those travelling on the railway or on the road network below.

"The refurbishment of the bridges and tunnels helps ensure that they serve their purpose for decades to come as well as improving their appearance in the communities they serve. While we appreciate that road closures is inconvenient, we are grateful for the patience of the local community as we deliver this important investment in the railway.

"We are sure that the improvements on these structures will be welcomed by the many people who drive under them, or travel over them by rail."

(LM/CD)