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Invergarry Bridge

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Invergarry Bridge
Drochaid Inbhir Garadh
Location Map ( geo)
Invergarry-br1.jpg
Cameraicon.png View gallery (9)
From:  Mandally
To:  Invergarry
Location
Invergarry
County
Inverness-shire
Highway Authority
Transport Scotland
Opening Date
Early 1800s / 1932
Additional Information
List No:  LB6851  (Cat C)
Engineer:  Thomas Telford
On road(s)
A82

History

The first road to be built through Invergarry, as opposed to rough tracks and paths, was that built through the Great Glen in the early years of the 19th Century by Thomas Telford. The road was built as one of the first in his program due to its strategic importance in the construction of the parallel Caledonian Canal. There was an earlier road, built on the opposite shore of Loch Oich and later to become the short-lived B8040, that had been built by General Wade in the 1720s, but Telford chose a new route which passed through the settlements, and could connect with his proposed roads west via Invergarry.

The road obviously needed to cross the River Garry (since reduced in flow by Hydro Electric works), and so a site was sought. With the laird of Invergarry Castle being a major investor (and problem-causer) for both the road and canal, it evidently became essential to plot a route that he would approve. This may explain the rather curious positioning of the bridge in relation to the roads.

The Old Bridge

Telford's bridge across the River Garry

The old bridge is fairly typical of Telford's structures, being a single stone arch across a comparatively narrow point of the river. It is probable that Telford saw this narrow channel as the ideal site for his bridge, rather than building two or three spans across a wider point. The road then had to reach the bridge, without disturbing the Castle grounds. This would explain the fact that the old road appears to follow the modern route as far as the new bridge, and then turn along the southern bank of the river to the old bridge. This old road can be seen in the map to the right.

The upstream side of the span of this bridge collapsed in 2020, half of the arch remains standing over the river, essentially cut lengthways through the middle. The bridge is now fenced off so is closed to vehicles and pedestrians and, as of 2022, remains in this condition.

This bridge is category C listed.

After half of the bridge had collapsed

The New Bridge

The new, category B listed, bridge still spans the river next to the A82 / A87 junction, it's just that that junction has moved about half a mile further west with the relocation of the bridge. Unlike most of its neighbours on the A82, the current bridge across the River Garry bears no date. Its structure is also unique, which suggests that it may not date from the 1930-35 period when the other bridges were constructed.

The other bridges built on the road in the early 1930s all have a smooth full-width arch on the inside, the internal structure hidden. However, Invergarry Bridge consists of four visible concrete arch ribs - the two outer sides and two intermediate ones - spanning the river and carrying the road deck. On either side, there are also cattle-creep arches allowing riverbank paths under the road, although only the northern path is accessible to the public.

Whilst the actual arch is decorated to resemble keystones of a traditional stone arch, the walls above are clearly prefabricated concrete panels, and as a result the parapets look very insubstantial as you walk across the bridge - but then as nothing appears to have hit them yet this is not a problem!

Junction

Immediately to the north of the bridge lies the junction of the A82 and A87. Indeed, it is the start point of the A87 as it heads west to Kintail and then across to the Isle of Skye. The junction is a simple give-way T Junction, with the A82 turning a tight 90 degree bend but maintaining priority. The junction obviously only dates from the mid-1930s when the new bridge was built. Prior to that, the junction lay a short distance to the east, in the same relative position to the old bridge.

Routes

Route To Notes

A82

Inbhir Nis / Inverness, Fort Augustus

A82

An Gearasdan / Fort William, Spean Bridge

A87

Caol Loch Aillse / Kyle of Lochalsh, Isle of Skye




Invergarry Bridge
Related Pictures
View gallery (9)
Invrgry-old-br2.jpgInvergarry-br2.jpgOld Invergarry Bridge - view across collapse from N.jpgOld Invergarry Bridge - collapsed side of arch from N.jpgOld Invergarry Bridge - close aerial from W.jpg
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
A87
 • A87/History  • A87/Route  • Kyle of Lochalsh  • Uig  • A87/Named Junctions  • Shiel Bridge (Kintail)  • Auchtertyre Junction  • Uig - North Uist Ferry  • Bunloyne Junction  • Kyleakin Roundabout  • Sligachan Hotel  • Borve Junction  • Skulamus Junction  • Broadford Junction  • Skye Bridge  • Raasay Ferry  • Glenelg - Kylerhea Ferry  • Moriston Bridge  • River Loyne Bridge  • Clachan Duich Bridge  • Eas-nan-Arm Bridge  • Dornie Bridge  • Sligachan Bridge  • Portree  • A87/Loch Loyne  • A87/Glen Shiel  • A87/Invergarry - Bunloyne  • T99 (Britain)  • C1232 (Highland)  • A87  • Mam Ratagan Pass  • Allt a' Chaorainn Bhig Bridge  • Malagan Bridge  • Uig - Harris Ferry  • Croe Bridge

Related:
Crossings of the Rivers Ness, Moriston, Oich & Garry
River Ness & Loch Ness tributariesArdachy Bridge • Bridge of Tarff • Allt Doe Bridge • White Bridge • Lower Foyers Bridge • Inverfarigaig Bridge • Divach Bridge • Borlum Bridge • White Bridge • Shenval Bridge • Drumnadrochit Bridge • Dochfour Causeway • Ness Bridge • Friars Bridge • Waterloo Bridge • Kessock Bridge
River MoristonLoch Loyne Bridge • River Loyne Bridge • Cluanie Bridge • Moriston Bridge • Ceannacroc Bridge • Torgoyle Bridge • Invermoriston Bridge
Rivers Oich and GarryLoch Quioch Bridge • Invergarry Bridge • Bridge of Oich • Fort Augustus Bridge


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