Argyll and Bute Council has announced the successful completion of of the newly constructed Balliemore Bridge in Glen Lean, Cowal.

The new structure replaces the original crossing, which was irreparably damaged and forced into demolition following an extreme weather event in October 2023.

The Council, working with Principal Contractor Geo-Structural Ltd and Ardtaraig Estate, swiftly established a temporary upstream crossing on 1 December 2023 while planning for a permanent solution.

While the original proposal was for a steel bridge with a 60-year lifespan, delays in removing public utilities from the old structure provided the necessary time to fully design a superior alternative. This allowed the Council to opt for a bespoke pre-cast concrete bridge, which has an intended working life of 120 years and significantly lower long-term maintenance costs.

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Councillor John Armour, Policy Lead for Roads, Amenity and Transport Services, praised the response to the crisis: "The work that's gone into building this new bridge has been exceptional. This project was unplanned, triggered by extreme weather, and the response has been nothing short of remarkable."

The construction required logistical planning, including the use of a 130-tonne crane to lift and position six pre-cast, 15-metre-long, pre-stressed concrete deck beams.

The new structure features an increased span length and its foundations are protected by steel sheet piles to mitigate the risk of scour and undermining events from future storms. The concrete option also allowed for the construction of a wider, raised footpath for pedestrians.

Although the bridge is now open to the public road network, surrounding works will continue in the coming weeks to finalise the scheme, including the removal of the temporary diversion road and temporary bridge.

Councillor Armour thanked the community for their patience, adding: "I'm especially grateful to the landowner for their cooperation in enabling the temporary diversion route." The successful completion of the new Balliemore Bridge is a testament to the dedication of all involved, as Argyll and Bute Council maintains over 900 bridges across the region.