Earlier this summer, BEAR Scotland delivered a programme of resurfacing and bridge joint replacement works at Connel Bridge, helping to maintain the condition of the A828  while minimising disruption for local communities and road users.

A well-known landmark near Oban, Connel Bridge opened in 1903 as a railway crossing and, at the time, was the second-largest cantilever bridge in Britain, surpassed only by the Forth Bridge. Today, it remains a vital link carrying the A828 across Loch Etive.

Delivered over five night shifts, the project involved resurfacing 57 metres of the south approach and 50 metres of the north approach carriageway, alongside the replacement of bridge joints at both ends of the steel deck structure.

As Connel Bridge operates as a single-track crossing under permanent traffic light control, the team faced a unique challenge in balancing essential maintenance with maintaining access. Careful planning was required, particularly given the lengthy diversion route and the proximity of another road closure in the area.

Working closely with colleagues delivering a nearby rock slope stabilisation scheme, the team coordinated closures and access arrangements to reduce disruption as much as possible.

Despite encountering wet weather and unexpected defects beneath the bridge joints, the team adapted quickly, installing additional steel plates and completing the works on schedule. The bridge was successfully reopened to traffic at the end of every shift.

The completed works will help preserve the condition of the bridge approaches. They also form part of the necessary preparations ahead of planned future bridge deck replacement works that will help ensure the long-term resilience of this important crossing.

Fun fact: Connel Bridge has had a starring role on the big screen, appearing in the 1981 spy thriller Eye of the Needle, starring Donald Sutherland.