Laxford Bridge

The Laxford Bridge is a stone arch bridge that carries the A838 across the Laxford River north to Rhiconich and Durness.

The bridge was built about 1834 by the Dukes of Sutherland – the road from Lairg, one of the "destitution roads" built during the potato famine, not being completed until 1851.[1][2][3] The bridge is a category B listed building.[4] An army transporter crashed on the bridge in 2009 so damaging it that it had to be closed to traffic. Detours of at least 97 kilometres (60 miles) were required (off-road) and the additional distance by road was 160 kilometres (100 miles).[5]

References

  1. ↑ "Laxford Bridge". Canmore. Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments of Scotland. Retrieved 2 February 2014.
  2. ↑ "Otters surveyed ahead of Laxford Bridge works". Northern Times. 28 December 2012. Retrieved 2 February 2014.
  3. ↑ Taylor, Ashley (11 November 1955). "All purpose fleet meets Sutherland's needs". Commercial Motor Archive. pp. 144–145. Retrieved 2 February 2014.
  4. ↑ "Laxford Bridge Over River Laxford (Ref:446)". Listed Buildings. Historic Scotland. Retrieved 2 February 2014.
  5. ↑ "Army truck falls 30ft into river". BBC News. 1 October 2009. Retrieved 2 February 2014.

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Laxford Bridge.

Coordinates: 58°22′29″N 5°01′01″W / 58.37472°N 5.01694°W