Construction work has been completed on a £560,000 renovation project at Soldiers Bridge in Fort William.

The bridge has officially reopened to the public.

The project involved the replacement of the bridge deck and handrails as well as the northern and southern ramps.

It was delivered over a two-year period by The Highland Council with funding from Transport Scotland through Sustrans Scotland's National Cycle Network Development Fund.

Sustrans Scotland Head of Network Development, Tom Bishop said: "As well as being a crucial link for the local community, Soldiers Bridge is a gateway to National Cycle Network Route 78, the 'Caledonia Way', a scenic walking and cycling path popular with locals and visitors to the area, and the Great Glen Way.

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"We hope the improvements to the bridge will encourage more people to explore the possibilities of this stunning route by foot or bike, and will enable Soldiers Bridge to remain a vital link for locals and visitors to the area for many years to come."

Speaking on behalf of the local Councillors, Chair of the Lochaber Committee Cllr Andrew Baxter added: "We are delighted that the bridge's refurbishment, which was requested by local users, has been completed and visitors and locals can once again enjoy using it to access favourite routes. This was a significant piece of work to upgrade the structure and secure its use for many years to come so we want to thank community groups for their input and the funders for their support. We also particularly thank the local landowners Lochiel Estate and Jahama Estates for assisting with the project."

(CM)