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Dunkeld Bridge

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Dunkeld Bridge
Location Map ( geo)
Dunkeld-br.jpg
Cameraicon.png View gallery (3)
From:  Birnam
To:  Dunkeld
County
Perthshire
Highway Authority
Perth and Kinross
Opening Date
1809
Additional Information
List No:  LB5620  (Cat A)
Bridge Type:  Arch Bridge
Length:  208.8m (685 ft 0 in)
Max Span:  27.4m (89 ft 11 in)
Engineer:  Thomas Telford
On road(s)
A923

Dunkeld Bridge was built by Thomas Telford in 1809. At the time, it was the only bridge across the Tay between Perth and Aberfeldy, a distance of 35 miles. It was constructed as part of his new route north to Inverness, replacing the earlier Military Road. This route was much later to become the A9.

The Bridge

The bridge consists of seven stone arches and now carries the A923 across the river Tay in the former Cathedral City of Dunkeld. In the past, before the A9 was diverted in 1977, this bridge formed part of the main road north through Perthshire. It is two-way (just), and gives the impression of having quite a steep climb from either side, despite what the photo suggests!

As is common with Telford's Bridges, the central arch is the widest, diminishing in size towards the banks. However, The two end arches are very much smaller, being small flood arches on either bank. The bridge was built in two halves behind coffer dams, allowing the river to flow through the other half of the channel. The central arch was then constructed to complete the crossing. It took around 4 years to complete, and despite being one of the earlier bridges built as part of Telford's commission on Highland roads and bridges, it is considered one of his finest. It is certainly the longest he built.




Dunkeld Bridge
Related Pictures
View gallery (3)
Dunkeld-br.jpgDunkeld Bridge.jpgApproaching Dunkeld.jpg
Crossings of the River Tay, and Tributaries
River TayKenmore Bridge • Aberfeldy Bridge • Grandtully Bridge • Pitnacree Bridge • Logierait Bridge • A9 Tay Bridge • Dunkeld Bridge • Caputh Bridge • Perth Bridge • Queens Bridge • Friarton Bridge • Tay Road Bridge
Fillan, Dochart & LochayWhite Bridge (Strathfillan) • Bridge of Dochart • Bridge of Lochay
River LyonBridge of Balgie • Bridge of Lyon • Comrie Bridge
River TummelKinloch Rannoch Bridge • Tummel Bridge • Coronation Bridge (Pitlochry) • Aldour Bridge • A9 Tummel Bridge • Ballinluig Bridge
River Garry and TributariesTrinafour Bridge  • Struan Bridge • Bruar Bridge • Dalnaspidal Bridge • Edendon Bridge • Allt Geallaidh Bridge • Dalnamein Bridge • Bridge of Tilt • A9 Garry Bridge • Garry Bridge


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