Taynuilt - River Nant Pedestrian Footbridge

Over recent months Argyll and Bute Council and a number of external funding bodies have been working with the community in Taynuilt to achieve improvements to the infrastructure of the village.

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Update - September 2009

The project is now complete.

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Footways have been upgraded throughout the village providing improved pedestrian access both to services within the village and to the wider recreational opportunities in the area, including the National Cycle Network Route 78.

Funders of the improvements to date have included Argyll and Bute Council, Sustrans, HITRANS, West Highland Housing Association, Taynuilt Community Council and Lonan Developments.

The current phase of development (Jan – March 2009) is the provision of a new pedestrian bridge across the River Nant. The existing provision is a single lane road bridge. The total cost of this phase is £220,000.

Argyll and Bute Council submitted a bid to Sustrans, who administer some Scottish Government funds, for the bridge. The Taynuilt footbridge was one of the two projects in Argyll and Bute awarded funding (the other one being a cycleway from Kilmartin to the B840 junction, part of the National Cycle Network). Sustrans awarded £100,000 for Taynuilt in September 2008 and Argyll and Bute Council confirmed that they would be able to contribute the remaining funds required. The project was put out to tender in October 2008 and awarded to DA Macdonald who commence work on site in January 2009 and will be completed by March 31st 2009.

DA Macdonald have already been on site to carry out some site clearance and conduct necessary tests in order to ensure the bridge is designed correctly for the supporting soil. Once the final design is complete they will be back on site.

For details of the location of the proposed footbridge and plans, please see the attached location map and plan.

This web page will be updated regularly as the project progresses.

- Update - 3rd March 2009 -

Preparation work is progressing well - reinforced concrete foundations / abutments for the Nant Footbridge have been designed to suit the ground conditions and are being fabricated in D A MacDonald's yard in Lochgilphead. Their work is expected to commence on site week beginning 2nd March.

The bridge itself is being fabricated in Huddersfield, expected delivery 1st week in April. The bridge will be 30 metres long and weigh 17 tonnes. It will be delivered to Taynuilt by road on a low loader. A 200 tonne crane will be required to lift it into place.

- Update - 1st April 2009 -

The contractors have made good progress and the abutments for the new footbridge are now in place. The bridge will be arriving in Taynuilt on the afternoon of Thursday 9th April. A traffic order will be advertised for this day as no parking in the main street will be permitted and the road will be closed at the River Nant. We would very much appreciate the cooperation of the community on the 9th as it is very difficult for us to give an exact time of when both the crane and bridge will arrive. We thank you in advance for your cooperation.

Following the bridge being lifted into a place a further two weeks of work are anticpated to complete works on the footway.

For further information on cycling and walking projects in Argyll and Bute, please contact Argyll and Bute Council, Transport Policy and Strategy Dept. Tel: 01546 604309.
Email Transport Policy and Strategy Dept.

See also: Outdoor Access.
Transport to School.
Nant Footbridge Plan. (PDF)
Taynuilt Footbridge Location Map. (PDF)
Environmentally-friendly transport.
Cycling.