Work has started on a £3.5m project to overhaul and refurbish a viaduct between Crianlarich and Oban in the Scottish Highlands.

The viaduct is at Awe and crosses the River Awe just a few miles south of Taynuilt.

It is a three-span wrought iron viaduct that was built in 1879 to carry the Crianlarich to Oban line over the River Awe, which flows from the freshwater Loch Awe into the sea loch of Loch Etive.

The work is designed to extend the lifespan of the viaduct and is being carried out by Network Rail and its supply chain partners, including its principal contractor STORY, as part of Network Rail’s commitment to running a safe and reliable railway.

During the planned seven months of the project, engineers will:

• Replace the existing timber deck that supports the track.
• Remove the old paint.
• Repairs the metallic parts of the structure.
• Repaint the viaduct to protect the metallic parts from rusting.

To ensure safe access for teams carrying out the work, and to help protect the environment including the river below, scaffolding will be erected and the viaduct.

Replacement of the viaduct’s timber deck is planned to take place over two weekends in October. That will require train services to be suspended during those weekends as the track across the viaduct must be removed to replace the deck.

Network Rail has written to people living near the viaduct about the work, and will continue to provide them updates as the project progresses.

To facilitate access to the viaduct during the work, a site compound and access road are being established in an area next to the structure.

Earlier this year, Network Rail carried out a £1.6m project to refurbish Rannoch viaduct between Crianlarich and Fort William, and next month work starts on a six-month project to refurbish a road bridge across the Highland Main Line at Killiecrankie, just north of Pitlochry.

This significant investment not only improves the structure’s look but will help extend its lifespan as work on this scale won’t be required for at least another 25 years.

The old paint will be removed by ‘blasting’ and a new three coat paint system applied – these works can be carried out dayshift. However, some of the metal repairs can only be carried out when no trains are running, due to safety reasons.

We appreciate the viaduct sits in a much-loved part of the world and we thank neighbours and visitors for their understanding while we complete these crucial works.

Owen Ferry, project manager, Network Rail