Kessock Bridge over A9 in Inverness set for major paint job

The Kessock Bridge at Inverness is set for a fresh coat of paint next week.

Engineers will be trialling a new strategy for the protection of the crossing while at the same time attempting to keep the impact to A9 traffic down to a minimum.

The project is set to take four months.

The trial will allow specialist teams to identify the best strategy for carrying out further maintenance painting across the bridge, ensuring it remains protected for years to come. It follows the paint trial that was completed in early 2019.

To enable the work to proceed, a specialist covered scaffold will be installed beneath the bridge deck that will allow teams to safely access bridge components.

Eddie Ross, BEAR Scotland's north west representative, said: "This encapsulated space will provide protection from the elements, enabling components to be stripped and cleaned of their existing coatings in preparation for a new paint system to be applied."

To ensure the safety of the workforce and all road users, temporary traffic lights will be in place on some occasions during off-peak times on Stadium Road, beneath Kessock Bridge, to facilitate installation of the works access platform as well as to allow the safe delivery of equipment and materials to site.

"The use of the traffic lights will be effectively managed to ensure any traffic disruption is kept to a minimum."

Alternating closures of the footpaths and cyclepaths will be required on the A9 Kessock Bridge to allow painting of the parapets and safe access to the suspended works access platform.

Appropriate diversion routes will be provided to ensure that a through route is maintained for cyclists and pedestrians at all times.

Some overnight single lane closures on the A9 will also be required on the bridge for safety reasons, however these will be kept to a minimum, Mr Ross stressed.

"This second painting trial will provide our teams with further insight into the best options for painting the whole bridge in the coming years.

"We’ve arranged the project to have minimal impact to motorists over Kessock Bridge, and while the closures of the footpaths at certain points is essential for ensuring the safety of pedestrians and cyclists, we’ve made sure that suitable diversions will be in place for users at all times.

"Our teams will do all they can to complete the trial as quickly and safely as possible, and while the impact to motorists is expected to be minimal, we encourage road users to plan their journeys in advance."

Real time journey information is available from Traffic Scotland on www.trafficscotland.org, twitter @trafficscotland or the new mobile website, my.trafficscotland.org.