Conon Bridge Station To Be Reopened Ahead of Kessock Bridge Works

19th September 2012

Transport Minister Keith Brown today announced that Conon Bridge Train Station will be reopened in time for the resurfacing works being carried out on the Kessock Bridge next year.

The station has been closed since 1960 but a new £600,000 station will be built on the site, set to re-open by February 2013. The station will service the Far North and the Kyle Lines, giving locals a convenient alternative to driving, both during the essential repairs to Kessock Bridge and beyond.

Mr Brown said: "I am delighted that we will be able to re-open Conon Bridge railway station in time to help mitigate disruption from the major re-surfacing works on the A9 Kessock Bridge.

"It is essential that we encourage motorists out of their cars and on to public transport during these works and a local station at Conon Bridge will help to do this.

"This is just one of several measures being put in place by Transport Scotland to help ease congestion, including temporary bus lanes, extending car parks at other stations, extra carriages on trains and extra bus services into Inverness.

"The reopening of Conon Station is a good example of partnership working between Transport Scotland, the local authority - The Highland Council, the local regional transport partnership - HITRANS, Network Rail and ScotRail and demonstrates just what could be achieved from the £30m Scottish Stations Fund coming into effect in 2014.

"This government has a strong record in supporting new stations and improving stations across the country. We have invested heavily in the railways and the opening of Conon Bridge Railway Station shows our commitment to delivering a rail network which meets the needs of Scotland."

Work is expected to start on the new Conon Bridge Station next month and the station is planned for reopening in February 2013.

Leader of The Highland Council, Councillor Drew Hendry welcomed the announcement.
He said: "This is great news not just for the local community but the benefits will spread wider to the whole Highlands. Recently we have seen a big increase in passengers commuting by rail into Inverness so the re-opening of Conon Station will provide even more opportunities for people to make the switch from car to rail travel.

"In recognition of this and to ensure this worthwhile project is established I am delighted that The Highland Council has agreed to contribute the appropriate funds, namely £100,000 towards the costs of the re-opening and a further £100,000 to the cost of upgrading the car park."

Transport Scotland is investing £18m to upgrade Kessock Bridge, bringing it in line with modern traffic standard requirements.

The first phase of the resurfacing work will commence in February 2013 and last until June 2013, with a second phase the following year, commencing February 2014 and lasting until June 2014.

Traffic restrictions will be in place during these times, with a reduced speed limit of 30mph on the bridge for the safety of motorists and the workforce.

Considerable delays are expected on the heavily trafficked route during these works and motorists are being encouraged to avoid unnecessary travel into the city centre and to consider using public transport. Employers are being encouraged to allow staff to adopt flexible working patterns, car pools and working from home.

In advance of these works, Transport Scotland will be making permanent improvements to nearby junctions and roundabouts on the A82 and A9 including the signalisation of Longman Roundabout, in order to ease traffic congestion while the main works on the bridge are underway. These advance network improvements will begin in winter 2012 and will be complete before the main bridge repairs begin in February 2013.

David Simpson, Network Rail route managing director for Scotland, said: "The project at Conon Bridge is another example of the innovative, new alliancing approach that Network Rail and ScotRail have adopted which is helping to drive down costs and increase investment in Scotland's railway.

"Through closer working we are able to deliver efficiencies and reduce timescales and today's announcement builds on other projects current benefiting from our alliancing approach such as the electrification of the Paisley Canal line which is being delivered for just £12m - half what it would have cost before alliancing was introduced.

"We look forward to delivering the new Conon Bridge station and the benefits it will bring for the local community."

Steve Montgomery, ScotRail's managing director, said: "The new station at Conon Bridge underpins commitments to connect even more communities by extending rail services.

"The station will contribute to the economic well-being of Scotland and encourage more people to leave their vehicles at home.

"The improved links will also support Scottish business and encourage more people than ever to switch to rail."

The Kessock Bridge opened to traffic in 1982. It is a cable stayed bridge and carries the A9 dual carriageway trunk road across the Beauly Firth at Inverness. The traffic flow on Kessock Bridge is approximately 30,000 vehicles per day with 11% of these HGVs.

Transport Scotland is liaising extensively with local stakeholders, employers, businesses and communities ahead of the works starting, including public exhibitions at The Black Isle Show and briefings for local transport forums.

The main works will involve removing the existing road surface, repairing any defects to the bridge steel deck plate, applying waterproofing to bridge steel deck plate and resurfacing both carriageways. Contractors will also replace the bridge deck expansion joints, replace the lighting columns, replace the safety fences in the central reserve and footways and resurface the footways and cycle-ways.

Motorists driving in and around Inverness during the works can access up to the minute journey time information at www.trafficscotland.org. Further journey planning information is also available on Twitter and via the Travelline Scotland/Transport Scotland travel app.

PHOTO
Site of the former Conon Station
© Copyright Richard Dorrell and licensed for reuse under this Creative Commons Licence
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