A west Stirlingshire bridge has finally re-opened to traffic almost two years after it was initially shut.
Branshogle Bridge, on the B818 near Balfron, re-opened to the first motors on Monday afternoon.
It closed in March 2021 after partially collapsing due to heavy rainfall.
Frustrated locals, drivers and businesses had been left to work around the closure for 21 months.
The bridge re-opened initially to one-way traffic following the completion of drainage, resurfacing and road widening works as well as the installation of new safety barriers.
Stirling Council committed £2.5million for essential repairs to the crossing, as well as for the repair of Catterburn Bridge, near Croftamie, which also closed last year after a collapse.
The council says that the repairs at both sites has been challenging due to a number of factors including the “unstable and varying ground conditions, the ages of the bridges and environmental considerations”.
Following the re-opening, environment, transport and net zero committee convener, Councillor Jen Preston said: “We would like to, first and foremost, acknowledge the profound disruption this bridge closure has caused residents and businesses in the local area and apologise for the resulting inconvenience.
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“These essential repairs have been complex and beset by a range of challenges, but with the bridge now open again to traffic, we hope to see a return to normal commuting in the area.
“We remain in dialogue with the affected communities as we continue with the repair project on the Catterburn Bridge which will bring relief to the surrounding road network once repairs are completed.”
At the time the route was forced to close, we told how farmers and HGV drivers were facing a 19-mile diversion.
The bridge initially partially collapsed, however consultants for Stirling Council feared that “a further collapse is likely”, resulting in the full closure.
The closure meant that lorries looking to head along the route between Balfron and Fintry have had to take a lengthy detour via Buchlyvie, Arnprior and Kippen.
Vehicles trying to access one farm along the B818 – Claylands – faced an almost 19-mile diversion to access the property.
Balfron Community Council chairman Colin Cameron said: “On behalf of the local community and businesses we are delighted that the bridge is open for use at last. It’s been a very long and frustrating wait for everybody but we should thank Stirling Council and the various contractors for finally getting the road reopened safely.
“We now need the diversions through Balfron removed and energies concentrated on reopening the Catterburn Bridge at Croftamie. We are also still waiting on Scottish Water to complete repairs to their bridge at Ballochruin Farm and reopening that road.”
Catterburn Bridge was shut, from the B834 to the A811, on September 30 last year and is currently planned to reopen to traffic in February next year.
