MOTORISTS face a lengthy detour when a bridge on the main Fort William-Oban road is closed overnight for repairs.
Connel Bridge, on the A828 Connel to Ballachulish trunk road, will be closed from tonight (Monday) to Thursday from 10pm-6am.
A spokesman for maintenance firm Scotland Transerv said: "Following recent damage caused by an over-height vehicle, a number of overhead cross beams to the northern end of the bridge need to be replaced.
"The works also involve carrying out repairs to parts of the cross beam’s supporting structure which were also damaged.
"Due to the restricted width available on the structure overnight closures of Connel Bridge will start on Monday and will last until Thursday.
"The road will be closed to all traffic, both vehicular and pedestrian, between 10pm and 6am to ensure the safety of the public and to allow unrestricted access to complete the works as quickly as possible.
"In addition to the steel beam replacement, repairs to the bridge deck surface will be carried out at the southern end of the bridge. This will involve removal of the existing surfacing to expose the bridge deck, followed by repairs to the concrete deck prior to reinstatement of the bridge deck surfacing.
"As the works will take several nights, rigid boards will be laid on the deck between closures to ensure there is a suitable traffic surface."
Emergency services will have unrestricted access to the bridge at all times.
Drivers travelling from Lochaber to Oban should take the A82 Fort William to Tarbet road as far as Tyndrum then the A85 from Tyndrum to Oban - a 62-mile diversion.
Motorists should allow extra time for their journeys and pay attention to any advisory signs which will be in place throughout the works.
