The council is taking steps to improve the safety of Clachan Bridge for those who use it by installing traffic lights, in the approach to the bridge. This action follows concerns from the public and the council, which is also supported by Police Scotland, regarding safety risks to bridge users; and more widely about the risk of a collision on the bridge cutting off access to and from the Isle of Seil.
Clachan Bridge
Clachan Bridge is a single-arched, hump-backed, masonry bridge spanning the Clachan Sound and also known as The Bridge over the Atlantic on the B844. It was built between 1792 and 1793 and links the west coast of the Scottish mainland to the island of Seil. The approach to either side of the bridge consists of a single carriageway with sufficient width for two vehicles to pass safely, however the bridge itself is reduced to one lane only with a speed limit of 30mph.
View travelling northwest approaching the Clachan Bridge:
View travelling East approaching Clachan Bridge (below):
Why action is being taken
There is a lack of visibility on the approach to both sides of the bridge -as can be seen in the photos. Motorists and cyclists on one side cannot see if there are road users approaching from the other side of the bridge.
This is a clear road safety issue, as underlined by concerns raised locally with the council. It is also the view of Police Scotland – ‘There is no view afforded on either side of traffic on the bridge and due to the steep incline all forward view is lost until a vehicle has passed the summit and is beginning to decline’.
The council has already taken the step of testing warning signs as a way to reduce this risk to road users and increase safety. However this has not been enough to address concerns.
An accident at the bridge would risk not only injury to bridge users, and the bridge itself, but would also bring the risk of closing the road and access to the Isle of Seil.
How the bridge will be protected
The council is keen both to address road safety issues and look after the bridge.
No works therefore will be carried out on the bridge. Traffic lights will be installed on the approach to the bridge only.
It is worth remembering that a collision on the bridge could have an impact on the bridge itself as well as on the people involved, so increasing road safety reduces the risk of damage to the bridge.
Work being done
This is a historic bridge built originally for horses and carts, not vehicles of the size of many of today’s cars and lorries.
Lights are being installed on the carriageway leading to the bridge, and not on the bridge itself. The lights are vehicle activated so will change in response to vehicles needing to use the bridge rather than to fixed time cycles for changing.
The council secured funding from the Scottish Government’s Road Safety Infrastructure Fund and the project has been accepted by Transport Scotland. The cost of the works is estimated at £35,000 dependent on cost for connection from SSE (Scottish Southern Electric).
Process for carrying out the work
In brief, there is a clear risk to bridge users given the lack of visibility approaching the bridge. The bridge itself cannot be altered to address road safety concerns. Works being done affect only the road and do not alter the bridge. The project delivers a positive improvement to road safety and access to Seil Island and does not give rise to any changes that negatively affect island communities. The council can therefore proceed to install the lights.
We have been asked about the need for an Island Communities Impact Assessment. We have not undertaken one here for these reasons:
- Community impact assessments typically consider economic, demographic, and societal impacts. The traffic signal installation does not alter population profiles, create disadvantage, or introduce additional burdens for residents of Seil, Easdale, or Luing. On the contrary, it enhances safety for all road users accessing and leaving the island.
- The proposed works are operational and directly address public concerns regarding road safety. They do not constitute a change to Council policy, strategy, or service provision. The improvements aim to reduce the likelihood of collisions caused by poor visibility on the bridge approaches. As the historic structure cannot be physically altered to resolve these risks, the installation of traffic signals represents the most appropriate mitigation.
- On this basis, the proposal complies fully with the Council’s statutory duties under the Islands (Scotland) Act 2018. The project does not create any negative or differential impact that would require a full Integrated Impact Assessment.
An officer from the council has engaged with local councillors and will meet with community councillors if they wish. We acknowledge that engagement could have been undertaken earlier and more effectively, and we apologise for this.
Our focus is on delivering a project that responds to clear road safety risks, for the benefit of bridge users, the bridge itself and the Isle of Seil more widely.
