A bridge on the A814, Dumbarton Road in Old Kilpatrick between Glasgow and Dumbarton has been reopened after replacement.

The bridge is over the North Clyde line between Glasgow and Helensburgh, the former Glasgow, Dumbarton and Helensburgh Railway line, west of Kilpatrick station and east of Bowling. It required replacement, as the previous structure had deteriorated so much that it was unsuitable for the weight and volume of present-day traffic that passed over it daily.

A short-term replacement was put in place last year when Network Rail installed a £1m temporary bailey bridge on top of the old bridge to allow traffic to continue using the route.

Following the demolition of both the old bridge and its Bailey bridge replacement, and the opening of the new bridge, Network Rail completed the £3.5m project on Tuesday, 7 December.

Since August, motorists have been diverted via the A82 Great Western Road whilst the new bridge was being constructed. Bus services which had also been rerouted since the work began are now able to use the route again and have resumed normal service.

A shuttle bus had linked Old Kilpatrick with Clydebank throughout the closure, but people in Bowling were left without an eastbound bus link because of the diversionary route put in place. Since September, pedestrians had also been unable to use the bridge.

Michael McArthur, Project Manager at Network Rail, said: “We’re very pleased that the road has reopened following completion of the new, permanent bridge.

“The investment we’ve made will benefit the community for years to come, while meaning rail and road users are less likely to experience disruption and delays to their journeys.

“I’d like to thank the community for their patience and understanding while we completed this vital work.”