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Great Bernera Bridge

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Great Bernera Bridge
Location Map ( geo)
Cameraicon.png View gallery (2)
From:  Lewis
To:  Great Bernera
County
Ross-shire
Highway Authority
Comhairle nan Eilean Siar
Opening Date
1953
On road(s)
B8059
The Bridge to Great Bernera

The bridge to Great Bernera is the most northerly of the inter-island crossings in the Western Isles. It was opened in 1953 and was the first example of pre-stressed concrete girders being used in a UK bridge. 25 local men were employed to build the bridge, which cost £70,000. The bridge is comparatively short, at about 100m, and has two intermediate piers. The deck is single carriageway throughout, although the approach roads on the B8059 are both S2. The B8059 terminates just a short way onto the island, the onward road being unclassified.

Today, the bridge provides an interesting diversion on the tourist trail, guarded over by three standing stones on Great Bernera and leading to the Iron Age village buried in the dunes at the island's north end.

History

The Bridge was the first time that any sort of reliable service to the 'mainland' of Lewis had been available to the island's residents. Before that, most island families owned boats, and some of them were available for hire, so the bridge completely changed the way of life on the island.



Links



Great Bernera Bridge
Related Pictures
View gallery (2)
Bernera Bridge.jpgThe bridge over the Atlantic Ocean.jpg
Other nearby roads
Lewis and Harris
Crossings to and within the Western Isles
To the IslesBarra Ferry • Lochboisdale Ferry • Uig - North Uist Ferry • Uig-Harris Ferry • Lewis Ferry
Within the IslesVatersay Causeway • Sound of Barra Ferry • Daliburgh Causeway • Druidibeag Causeway • Eriskay Causeway • Loch Bee Causeway • South Ford Causeway • North Ford Causeway • Baleshare Causeway • Berneray Causeway • Sound of Harris Ferry • Seilebost Causeway • Scalpay Bridge • Great Bernera Bridge
Other AreasIrish Sea • Inner Hebrides • Western Isles • Shetland • Orkney • North Sea • English Channel • Solent • Inland Crossings • Other Island Crossings


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