Archive images of 'iconic' bridge's construction mark 40 years
Transport minister Jenny Gilruth has promised £33m to maintain Kessock Bridge as it celebrates its anniversary.
news.stv.tvHere’s the latest on Kessock Bridge based on the most recent public updates I could find.
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Ongoing safety improvements (A9 Kessock Bridge, Beauly Firth, near Inverness): A BEAR Scotland-led programme funded by Transport Scotland is strengthening the four steel towers, upgrading wind measurement equipment, and improving internal access for maintenance teams. The works were planned to progress through 2025 with completion aimed for Autumn 2026 in some reports, though specific end dates have varied by project phase [BEAR Scotland update 2025-01-06][Traffic Scotland update 2025-08-18].
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Footway closure: The west footway/cycleway has been closed to pedestrians and cyclists since early 2025 to ensure safety during high-access works, with a diversion route in place. The closure is part of the broader safety and upgrade effort [Traffic Scotland 2025-08-18].
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Paint and deck works: A separate phase involved stripping old coatings and applying a new protective paint system to steelwork at Span 13 (north end) with completion targeted around September 2025, reflecting detailed, staged improvement work on the bridge’s exterior and structural components [Traffic Scotland 2025-08-18].
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Overall project timeline: Initial summaries indicated completion of the main safety upgrades by Autumn 2025 in some communications, while other updates place various components (deck works, paint, tower strengthening) into 2025–2026 timelines. Given multiple overlapping works, travelers should expect intermittent changes in traffic patterns, lane closures, and pedestrian diversions depending on the phase [BEAR Scotland 2025-01-06][Traffic Scotland 2024-12-31][Traffic Scotland 2025-08-18].
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Context: Kessock Bridge is a key A9 crossing north of Inverness, with ongoing modernization to improve structural resilience and wind monitoring, and to enhance maintenance access. The investments align with prior 2010s–2020s upgrades to extend the bridge’s service life and ensure safety for road users in varying weather conditions [BEAR Scotland updates][Traffic Scotland pages].
Practical tips if you’re traveling:
- Check Traffic Scotland and Bear Scotland channels for up-to-date lane closures and footpath diversions before travel. Plan extra travel time during peak periods or when shifts in work phases are announced [Traffic Scotland 2025-08-18].
- If your route includes the west footway, use the official diversion route and follow on-site signage for pedestrian and cyclist safety [Traffic Scotland 2025-08-18].
Would you like a quick, country-wide or route-specific forecast of expected delays for your usual travel window, or a concise summary of upcoming phase changes with dates? I can pull the latest schedules and provide a streamlined plan.
Citations:
- BEAR Scotland safety improvement updates and completion targets.[1]
- Highland Council project update references for Kessock Bridge works.[2]
- Traffic Scotland update on A9 Kessock Bridge improvement plans and closures.[3]
- Archived Traffic Scotland safety improvements page.[4]