A9 Cromarty Bridge | Maintenance Works
UPDATE (24/11/2025): BEAR Scotland, on behalf of Transport Scotland, is continuing essential maintenance on both lanes of the A9 over Cromarty Bridge, near Dingwall.
The original programme of works was anticipated to last approximately 20 weeks however the bridge requires further concrete repairs to those originally anticipated. Unsuitable weather conditions, including Storms Floris and Amy, have also presented challenges for the project. As a result, the maintenance works are now expected to be completed in February 2026.
To ensure the safety of road users and the workforce, temporary traffic lights will remain in place from 7pm until 6am, Monday to Friday, with a 30mph speed restriction in place at all times until works are complete. The temporary traffic lights will be in use 24 hours a day at weekends to allow repair activities.
Where weekend working finishes earlier than expected, the temporary traffic lights may be removed. However, whilst every effort will be made to complete the weekend works in as timely a manner as possible, there may be occasions where it is necessary to operate the traffic lights beyond 6am on Monday mornings.
Traffic flows will be monitored on site, with the traffic lights operated under manual control at peak times to minimise delays. Recovery vehicles will also be available while traffic lights are in use.
Access for emergency services and the footpath across the bridge will remain open throughout the project.
A holding layby will be available for abnormal loads over 80 tonnes and 3.25m wide. Loads over 100 tonnes must continue to use an alternative route until the works are complete.
Euan Scott, BEAR Scotland’s North West Representative, said, “Our teams have made progress on these essential repairs in what have been challenging conditions. Completing the concrete repairs and bearing works are key steps toward strengthening the long-term condition of the bridge.
“We appreciate the continued patience of road users and local communities as we work to finish the project safely and as efficiently as possible.”
BEAR Scotland, on behalf of Transport Scotland, is set to carry out essential maintenance on both lanes of the A9 over Cromarty Bridge, near Dingwall, from Monday 21 July. Works are expected to take around 20 weeks to complete, with total work costs of £2.9 million. To minimise traffic disruption, works are being carried out overnight.
The works will involve concrete repairs, bearing replacements, bridge joint modifications, installation of a corrosion prevention system, expansion joint replacement and resurfacing the road. These works are being carried out at the south end of the bridge to repair concrete and steel defects caused by corrosion.
To ensure the safety of both road users and the workforce, temporary traffic lights will be on the bridge from 7pm until 6am, Monday to Friday. Traffic lights will be removed outwith weekday working hours and a 30mph temporary speed restriction will be in place 24 hours a day as traffic will be travelling over temporary steel plates.
On Saturdays and Sundays, temporary traffic lights will be in place 24 hours a day to allow the contractor to complete longer duration works such as bearing replacements and concrete repairs above and below the bridge.
Where weekend working finishes earlier than expected, traffic lights may be removed. However, whilst every effort will be made to complete the weekend works in as timely a manner as possible, there is a possibility that traffic lights could occasionally be required beyond 6am on Monday mornings.
Queuing traffic will be monitored on site and temporary traffic lights manually controlled at peak periods to minimise delays. Recovery vehicles will be on site whilst temporary traffic lights are in place to attend to broken down vehicles or any incidents that may occur.
Access for emergency services will be maintained at all times and the footpath across Cromarty Bridge will remain open throughout the works.
Holding laybys will be provided for abnormal vehicles heavier than 80 tonnes and wider than 3.25m. Abnormal vehicles heavier than 100 tonnes will have to use an alternative route from Monday 1 September until the works are completed.
Euan Scott, BEAR Scotland’s North West Representative, said, “This refurbishment is an important investment in this major structure by Transport Scotland which will help ensure the long-term integrity of the bridge.”
“Learnings from previous works on Cromarty Bridge have been built into the planning for these improvements and have been designed to minimise traffic disruption.”
“Our design teams have taken account of big local events such as the Black Isle Show and the Belladrum Tartan Heart Festival when planning these works and will ensure that daytime temporary traffic lights are not in operation during these times. We’ll also be manually operating the temporary traffic signals at peak times to ensure traffic flows are optimised to minimise delays to road users.
“We are committed to completing this essential maintenance as quickly and safely as possible. We thank all road users and the local community for their patience in advance. Please plan ahead by checking the Traffic Scotland website for up-to-date journey information and leave some extra time to complete journeys.”
How to get the latest travel and traffic information
For full information on roadworks on trunk roads in the north-west and south-east of Scotland, visit the Bear Scotland website.
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