Dornoch Firth Bridge

Route

Like the Cromarty Bridge to the south, the Dornoch Firth Bridge cut a dozen or so miles off the route north when it was opened. At the southern end, an embankment / causeway was built out across Tarlogie Scalps, to the start of the bridge. Approximately 2 miles of new road were built at the northern end of the bridge to connect it with the old road, which was renumbered the A836 to the south and A949 to the north of the Firth. These two roads meet at Bonar Bridge, where the A9 used to cross the Kyle of Sutherland at the head of the Dornoch Firth.

Bridge

The bridge itself was opened in 1991, and consists of some 21 spans between the causeway sections at either end. The road deck is concrete, with the footways cantilevered out on either side of the paired pier legs. The full length of the bridge section is approximately 900m, with the causeways / embankments at either end each being a similar length again.

It was reported as open by the 2 August 1991 Aberdeen Press (the opening date of 26 July had been mentioned previously). The official opening was on 27 August 1991 by the Queen Mother.

Contractor was Christiani Morrison, cost £15.3 million for the whole scheme.

Meikle Ferry

Before the Bridge was built, a ferry service operated across the channel a little to the west. The slipways, each on long spits of land sticking into the Firth, are still used by small craft.