Bridge of Fitch

Bridge of Fitch

Location Map ( geo)

The old bridge below the modern junction

View gallery (5)

Location

nr Lerwick

County

Zetland

Highway Authority

Shetland Islands

Junction Type

T Junction

Roads Joined

A970, A970 (Spur)

Junctions related to the A970

Clickimin Roundabout

The junction as seen from the Scalloway Spur

Bridge of Fitch is an unusual junction, mainly because all three arms carry the same number, A970. It lies a couple of miles west of Lerwick on Shetland's Mainland and is the junction where the southern spur of the route heads off to Scalloway. For long distance traffic, it is also the shortcut route, via the B9073 avoiding Lerwick itself, and as such the junction can be quite busy. Originally, the junction was the start of the A970, which only ran north from here, the other two arms were the A969. However, at some point between 1946 and 1951, the A970 was extended south through Lerwick to Sumburgh over the original A968, and as a result also acquired most of the A969, including the spur to Scalloway.

The junction takes its name from the bridge immediately to the south east which spans the Burn of Dale. Today the A970 crosses a large embankment with a small double culvert pipe at the bottom. This dates from the 1960s, and is first shown as complete on the 1971 map. The surviving old bridge lies a short distance upstream and is accessed from the Spur. It is a small single span concrete structure, the alignment of which suggest that priority was given to the former A969 route from Lerwick to Scalloway. However, what only becomes apparent when looking at old maps is that there was once a wider apron, now buried under the A970 spur providing a fork junction, and it is not clear which route had priority. The suggestion on the One Inch OS maps that there may have been two bridges here is not supported by larger scale sheets.

Immediately to the west of the junction, alongside the spur, is a large marked parking area, with a gravel layby opposite. Similar facilities are provided at other junctions on Shetland and appear to relate to some form of park and ride service with local buses, rather than any form of tourist site. The bus stops sit on the northern arm of the A970, close to the parking area.