AmcoGiffen has formally been appointed as the contractor and will carry out initial site investigation works from Wednesday (27 July), with the main work starting next month.
Local community representatives and other key stakeholders have been informed of the positive update.
Further meetings with local residents and businesses will take place this week to explain the next stage of the process.
Matter of urgency
Convener of Stirling Council’s Environment and Housing Committee, Cllr Jen Preston said: “I know how much disruption the closure of this crucial crossing point is causing to local residents and businesses, and the Council has progressed repairs as a matter of urgency.
“We are working with utility partners and the contractor to ensure work on the bridge can start as soon as possible, and we will continue to keep local people updated regularly throughout the duration of the project.”
The Council has committed £2.5million for essential repairs to both the Catterburn and Branshogle bridges, which were closed last year following significant storm damage to the structures.
The repair work has been challenging at both sites due to a number of factors including the unstable and varying ground conditions, the ages of the bridges and environmental considerations.
Work on the bridge at Branshogle started last November. The Council will provide a further update to the local community on the scheduled completion date at the next engagement event scheduled for early August.
Background:
Catterburn Bridge
The bridge, located on the A809 south of Croftamie, suffered a partial collapse on 30 September 2021, forcing its closure and the implementation of a diversion route for traffic.
Design work for the complex repairs, which required industry specific skills and insight, commenced immediately and were completed in April allowing a full tender process to commence prior to the appointment of a contractor.
Branshogle Bridge
The bridge on the B818 suffered a partial collapse on 19 February 2021 following a period of heavy rainfall. The B818 was closed immediately with a diversion put in place.
The Council’s contractor has faced significant challenges at this site due to the complexity of the project, including challenging ground conditions (steep site, unstable structure and variable rock levels), an environmentally sensitive watercourse and the age of the bridge.
The installation of a temporary structure to allow limited traffic flow was considered for both bridges but was assessed to be an impractical measure, which would ultimately have negatively impacted on the delivery of a long-term repair solution.
Dates and times for further resident and business engagement events relating to the bridges will be shared with community councils as soon as they are arranged.