The arrival of massive precast beams this week marks a key milestone in the replacement of Naver Bridge, a vital transport link on the A836 section of the North Coast 500 near Bettyhill.
A 500-tonne crane was delivered and rigged on-site on Monday 29 September, ahead of two delivery phases bringing 30 beams, each more than 20 metres long to the Highland construction site.
The project is being delivered by Wills Bros Civil Engineering Ltd on behalf of The Highland Council, with recent progress including the completion of both bridge abutments and the central pier.
Installation of the beams, each weighing around 23 tonnes will take place between 1 and 14 October.
The work marks a visible step forward in a complex infrastructure programme set to be completed by December 2026.
Chair of The Highland Council’s Economy and Infrastructure Committee, Councillor Ken Gowans, praised the progress made so far.
“This vital transport link is a major north coast project which demonstrates our commitment to improving the infrastructure in rural areas of Highland,” he said.
“I am delighted to see the project continue to take shape, with the beams arriving this week.
“The ongoing works are progressing well, and a huge credit must go to the contractors and our council staff overseeing all the construction to date on this key development.”
Phase one of the beam installation, scheduled for 1 and 2 October, will see 16 beams delivered in eight trucks, with 10 installed on the bridge’s west span and six on the central span.
The remaining 14 beams will arrive on 8 and 9 October, completing the central span and installing all beams on the east span.
Local residents and road users are advised that minor disruptions may occur along Skelpick Road during delivery, but efforts are being made to minimise inconvenience and ensure safety.
The beams, which travel from Cairnryan through Glasgow and up the A9 to Bettyhill, would stretch halfway across Torrisdale Bay if laid end to end.
Future stages of the £multi-million project will include road construction, utility diversions, landscaping, and eventual demolition of the existing bridge.
The new structure is expected to open to traffic by Summer 2026, with full completion anticipated by the end of that year.
