Forestry and Land Scotland (FLS) has successfully deployed two recycled ex-Swedish army bridges, delivering cost-effective access solutions for forestry operations while minimising environmental disturbance.

The surplus military bridges, described as "war bridges" in army manuals, were purchased online from a specialist dealer. One bridge was utilised in Aberdeenshire to provide essential temporary access to a quarry, enabling repairs to an existing bridge damaged by severe flooding. The second bridge was ingeniously split into two smaller structures for use in South Scotland, providing access for harvesting and re-stocking operations at Loch Trool and Penninghame.

This innovative approach yielded substantial financial benefits for the public body. The two bridges installed in South Scotland cost less than £80,000 combined for purchase and installation, compared to an estimated typical cost of £130,000 for one standard new modular bridge. The temporary bridge in Aberdeenshire was installed for just £5,000, with a further £2,000 spent on dismantling after use.

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Beyond the cost savings, the ex-military bridges offered significant practical and environmental advantages. Their design allowed for easy splitting and rapid assembly – often within a day – without requiring specialised components. Their robust, rugged construction is well-suited to heavy forestry traffic, and their installation method resulted in minimal impact on sensitive river banks. Furthermore, the bridges can be easily dismantled and relocated for future use elsewhere on the FLS estate.

Elaine McClymont, FLS Civil Engineer, who planned the works in South Scotland, commented: "It was a great find and a perfect solution. The design and size of the bridge meant that it could be easily split into two smaller bridges that could be put together within a day and without the need for special components."

She added: "Being army design, they're rugged, robust and more than capable of dealing with forestry traffic. The bridges, now at Loch Trool and Penninghame, were installed quickly and with minimal impact on the river banks. And to cap it all, once they've served their purpose here, the bridges can easily be dismantled and moved to another location where they might be needed."

The successful deployment demonstrates an effective, reusable, and budget-friendly engineering solution for managing infrastructure needs within Scotland's national forests and land.