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Spean Bridge

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Spean Bridge
Drochaid an Aonachain
Location Map ( geo)
Spean-br1.jpg
Cameraicon.png View gallery (2)
From:  Fort William
To:  Invergarry
Location
Spean Bridge
County
Inverness-shire
Highway Authority
Transport Scotland
Opening Date
1819
Additional Information
Engineer:  Thomas Telford
On road(s)
A82 • A86
Crossings related to the A86

In 1800 the site of Spean Bridge was indistinguishable from any other section of the River's valley in the area. There may have been the odd scattered house, a rough path running from it to its neighbours, some trees and maybe a small cropped field and some livestock. In 1850 Spean Bridge was a thriving village, with an important bridge at the junction of the main roads through Glen Spean and the Great Glen. There is only one reason for this rapid change - Thomas Telford. Today the village is a bustling place, particularly in the summer months, most famous for the Commando Memorial which stands on the hill above the river. This brings thousands of visitors into the village every year, with walks and cycle routes in the nearby Leanachan Forest, and the Caledonian Canal also nearby.

Bridge

Designed and built by Thomas Telford as part of his Badenoch Road, Spean Bridge replaced the old High Bridge a mile or so further west at Kilmonivaig, which he described as being in a 'perilous state'. In doing so Telford moved the centre of this huge rural parish to the junction that he created next to his bridge. It was, in turn, the existence of the bridge and junction that created the village we have today. It was not all plain sailing however, and Telford's first design was swept away twice during construction before a larger bridge was drawn up and successfully built. Dates of both 1815 and 1819 are quoted for completion, perhaps reflecting the problems.

The bridge was widened in 1932 with concrete, the original facing stone work being taken down and re-erected to maintain the appearance of the bridge. It is highly unusual as a Telford Bridge, in that it has three arches of different sizes, the centre one the widest, then the north arch and the southern arch significantly narrower. This was related to the suitability of bedrock in the river, and again may have been a result of the problems encountered during construction. Today the bridge carries the two-way A82 across the river, with a sharp bend and junction immediately at the north end.

Junction

Immediately to the north of the bridge, the A82 swings sharply to the left, while the A86 leads off eastwards. It is a difficult, tight junction which ever way you are approaching from, but due to the close proximity of the bridge, and property there is seemingly little that can be done to improve it. The worst bit of the junction is when turning left out of the A86, where a bulge has been put on the corner of the pavement, making it very difficult to turn without clipping the curb.

Routes

Route To Notes

A82

Inbhir Nis/Inverness , Commando Memorial 1, Caol Loch Aillse/Kyle of Lochalsh (A87)

A82

An Gearasdan/Fort William, Nevis Range

A86

Drochaid Ruaidh/Roybridge, Newtonmore, Peairt/Perth, Cairngorms National Park




Spean Bridge
Related Pictures
View gallery (2)
Spean-br1.jpgA82-a86.jpg
Crossings of the Rivers Lochy, Spean & Tributaries
River Lochy & TributariesLochybridge • Loy Bridge • Bridge of Mucomir • Caledonian Canal Swing Bridges
River Spean & TributariesHigh Bridge (Spean Bridge) • Spean Bridge • Roy Bridge • Allt na h-Uamha Bridge • Moy Bridge (Loch Laggan)
Features of the A82 Corridor
Route HistoryA82Great Western Road • Loch Lomond • Glen Falloch • Srathfillan • Rannoch Moor • Glencoe • Ballachulish - Fort William • Fort William - Fort Augustus • Loch Ness
Associated Routes: A805 • A829 • A876 • A8005 • B810 • B848 • B863 • B8040
CrossingsErskine Bridge • Dumbarton Bridge • Balloch Bridge • Luss Bridge • White Bridge • Ba Bridge • Kingshouse Bridge • The Study • Achnambeithach Bridge • Ballachulish Bridge • Righ Bridge • Corran Ferry • Kiachnish Bridge • Nevis Bridge • Lochybridge • Caledonian Canal Swing Bridges • Invergarry Bridge • Bridge of Oich • Fort Augustus Bridge • Invermoriston Bridge
JunctionsCharing Cross • Anniesland Cross • Kilbowie Roundabout • Old Kilpatrick • Dunglas Roundabout • Dumbarton Fork • Barloan Toll • Lomondgate Roundabout • Renton Junction • Stoneymollan Roundabout • Arden • Tarbet • Crianlarich • Tyndrum • Bridge of Orchy • Glencoe Crossroads • Ballachulish Roundabout • North Ballachulish • Corran Ferry • West End Roundabout • An Aird • Nevis Bridge • Lochybridge • Spean Bridge • Commando Memorial • Invergarry Bridge • Fort Augustus • Invermoriston • Drumnadrochit • Tomnahurich Roundabout • Telford Street Roundabout • Harbour Road Roundabout • Longman Roundabout
DestinationsGlasgow • Clydebank • Erskine Bridge • Dumbarton • Tarbet • Crianlarich • Tyndrum • Fort William • Lochybridge • Spean Bridge • Inverness
Junctions on the A86
Spean Bridge  • Drumgask  • Newtonmore  • Kingussie Interchange


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