On Monday 9 September preliminary work on the 140-year-old bridge at Clachnaharry in Inverness  started and will last for 5 weeks.  During this period there will be temporary road works on the A862 road going over the bridge and traffic will be controlled by traffic lights. Drivers are advised that they could face delays whilst work is underway. The 7.5 tonnes weight restriction, which has been in place on the bridge since March, will still apply.

This 5 week period of preliminary work will be followed by complete closure of the road to all traffic, 24 hours a day, from midnight on Friday 11 October until midnight on Sunday 3 November. The alternative route for motorists and buses during these 3 weeks will be via the Kessock Bridge.  Trains will not be affected by the work and will run as normal in and out of Inverness on the North line.

The work on the bridge is part of a national assessment programme of road over rail bridges - Bridgeguard 3 - in which local authorities must ensure all such bridges are assessed in relation to their suitability to carry 40 tonne vehicles.

Janette Anderson, Director of Railtrack Scotland said: "Railtrack takes its obligations under the Bridgeguard 3 initiative very seriously.  We are pleased to be able to replace this old bridge with a completely new structure which will not only comply with the new European standards but will provide a more satisfactory road crossing of the line. We do acknowledge that the work will cause inconvenience in the short term but are confident that this long term solution will benefit both road and rail users alike."

Local Highland Councillor Jack Shiels said: "We appreciate that drivers, businesses and especially the people living in and around Clachnaharry will face disruption but the work is necessary. If the deck of the bridge is not replaced, it will not comply with key safety legislation and we would have no option but to close off the road over the bridge permanently.

"As soon as we became aware that a complete road closure would be necessary we have been in close contact with the local Community Council, the Resident's Group and local businesses to keep them aware of all developments and to keep the disruption to their lives to a minimum."