New chapter in the Bridge of Sighs saga of canal crossing at Inverness
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Yet another problem has now hit the Torvean Swing Bridge over the Caledonian Canal at Inverness.
The crossing seems jinxed since no sooner is one repair effected, another problem comes along.
Ten days ago the bridge broke down and a specially made new part was ordered.
Seven days ago the new part was fitted - but almost immediately a problem with sensors cropped up preventing the bridge from being operated remotely from the control building as it should be.
Specialist engineers sorted this problem by today (Thursday April 4) but, yes you’ve guessed it, along came another hitch!
A spokeswoman for Highland Council who run the crossing said: “The bridge itself is now operating correctly but now the CCTV has crashed which also prevents operation from the control building.
“A computer expert is due today (Thursday) to attempt recovery of the system.”
The spokeswoman added: “The bridge operating system is getting a full service check today as well.”
Torvean Bridge plays a vital part in preventing traffic bottlenecks when the canal has to be closed to vehicles when boats are coming through.
It works in tandem with the nearby Tomnahurich Bridge so that when one swing bridge has to close to road traffic, the other bridge is used, preventing the massive tailbacks that plagued the A82 Inverness to Loch Ness trunk road for decades.
Torvean Bridge has suffered several breakdowns since opening in July 2021.
It is core a element of the West Link bypass and its marked the completion of the road project that was made possible through investment by Highland Council and the £315m Inverness and Highland City-Region Deal which included £135m from the Scottish Government, supported by £127m from Highland Council and its partners and another £53m from the UK Government.
