Work is now complete on the replacement of a "battered" old bridge at Milngavie Reservoirs.
Scottish Water said that the exchanging of the "battered" 130-year-old bridge is a "massive facelift" for the area.
The historic Craigmaddie Valve Tower Bridge was in desperate need of a make-over but, due to its listed building status, it had to be replaced with an exact replica bridge.
Gerry O’Hara, project manager, explained the challenges faced by the workers involved in the ten-day operation.
He said: “There were many aspects, not to mention many moving parts, which had to be given careful consideration to ensure overall success.
“The natural landscape of Milngavie Reservoirs, with its steep hills, narrow pathways and tricky terrain made access more difficult. The 72-tonne crane and other heavy plants had to navigate a snowy trackway and tight spaces to get to where they had to be.
“A temporary road bridge also had to be constructed to ensure key infrastructure was protected at site. And that was all before the main works at Craigmaddie Valve Tower Bridge could begin!”
The original bridge dates back to 1896 when the construction of Craigmaddie Reservoir was completed.
Craigmaddie and Mugdock reservoirs – known collectively as Milngavie Reservoirs – store drinking water that supplies over 700,00 customers in the Greater Glasgow area.
Built in the 19th century, the site has huge historic significance and attracts over 160,000 visitors per year.
Recognising the great work of the project team, Georgina Reid, corporate affairs manager in the west region, said: “Come rain or shine, we know how busy Milngavie Reservoirs can be with people out enjoying some fresh air at this beauty spot. It was therefore vitally important to us that people still got to enjoy the area while our works were underway.
“The fact that all this work involving heavy plant took place while maintaining safe public access to the reservoirs is a testament to the highly skilled project team.
“They have gone the extra mile to help protect the site while doing their best to minimise any impact on the reservoir users. We really want to thank them for their expertise and their considered approach.
“Of course, we also want to thank reservoir visitors for their patience and understanding during these works. There were many interested spectators and we hope you enjoyed the show!“
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