Work will soon be underway to build a new bridge to span the River Carron connecting four communities – Bainsford, Langlees, Carron and Carronshore.

The Abbotshaugh footbridge will be located in an area historically knows as the Abbotshaugh Estate which spanned both the north and south river banks.

Costing just over £840k, the new bridge should be in place by Spring 2018 with preparatory work starting in December this year.

Councillor Paul Garner, spokesperson for Environment said: “The new bridge will be a significant asset firstly by providing a new link for the four communities it will connect and secondly for the other twelve towns and villages situated along the River Carron.

“There has been a strong desire in the communities along the River Carron for a bridge to be built at this location. The new footbridge will be open to the public next spring becoming  a well used footway and cycle way which will improve access for the 16 communities that border the River Carron.”

The Abbotshaugh footbridge will be an impressive structure. Spanning 48 metres the steel bow truss footbridge, with steel ramps, will be suitable for both cycling and walking and following a competitive tender process will be built by contractors RJ McLeod.

Preparatory work and foundations will get underway on site in December, while the bridge will be built off site and transported and lifted into position early next year. The bridge will be secured in place and ramps and path connections will be installed before the bridge opens to the public.

In 2009 Communities Along the Carron (CATCA) carried out a public consultation which identified issues and aspirations to improve the environment along the sixteen communities bordering the River Carron. A report was published which identified a desire for a bridge over the River Carron. Since then the Council and CATCA have worked together to make this desire a reality resulting in the new bridge which not only links together the communities along the Carron but also provides  a link to the Helix Park.

The bridge has been funded by Falkirk Council, Sustrans Scotland’s Community Links Programme and the European funding organisation Kelvin Valley & Falkirk LEADER Program.