Beam delivery marks milestone for Naver Bridge

The delivery this week of precast beams will mark another significant milestone in the development of the Naver Bridge replacement scheme, on the A836 section of the North Coast 500 route near Bettyhill.

A 500-tonne crane arrived on-site on Monday 29th September, to be rigged on the east platform in preparation for the arrival of 30 beams, each over 20-metres in length.

Wills Bros Civil Engineering Ltd have now completed works on both abutments and pier.

The next major phase of work is the installation of precast beams, scheduled to take place between 1st October and 14th October, marking further significant progress for the project.

Chair of The Highland Council’s Economy and Infrastructure Committee, Councillor Ken Gowans said: “This vital transport link is a major north coast project which demonstrates our commitment to improving the infrastructure in rural areas of Highland.

“I am delighted to see the project continue to take shape, with the beams arriving this week. The ongoing works are progressing well, and a huge credit must go to the contractors and our council staff overseeing all the construction to date on this key development.”

Beam delivery and installation will occur in two phases:

• Phase One - 1st & 2nd October

16 precast beams will be delivered in eight trucks (two beams per truck)

Installation: 10 beams on the west span and six on the central span

• Phase 2 - 8th & 9th October

14 precast beams will be delivered in seven trucks (two beams per truck)

Installation: The remaining beams on the central span and all beams on the east span

Please be advised that minor traffic disruptions may occur along the Skelpick Road during the beam delivery. Every effort will be made to minimise these impacts and ensure safe and efficient operations.

We would like to extend our sincere appreciation for the ongoing support and patience shown by local residents and stakeholders from the beginning of this project. Your cooperation continues to be invaluable as we progress.

Statistics about the delivery

• The beams are 21.5 m long and each one weighs approximately 23 tonnes each. If laid out end to end, they would cover half of Sutherland’s Torrisdale Bay.
• The beams will make their way from Cairnryan to Glasgow and then upwards along the A9 and beyond to the site in Bettyhill.

Wills Bros Civil Engineering are completing these works on behalf of The Highland Council.

Works are planned to continue throughout year, with bridge construction, utility diversion, road construction and landscaping works due to be completed and open to traffic by Summer 2026. Demolition of the existing bridge structure is scheduled for the in-river working window in November 2026, enabling full project completion by December 2026.