Hill walkers heading for the Glenfinnan area are being warned by the MCofS about access difficulties due to a bridge replacement scheme on the A830 to Mallaig, affecting the normal route up the Corbett Sgurr an Utha. Work is due to begin to replace Utha Bridge, about 2 ½ km west of Glenfinnan village, this month and is likely to take about nine months until well into 2016.
Track at start of usual Sgurr an Utha route
The project will involve closing the existing carriageway and diverting traffic over a temporary bridge while demolition and construction takes place – a traffic light system will be put in place. Unfortunately the project will make access for hillwalkers using the Sgurr-An-Utha hill walk more difficult, as BEAR Scotland is unable to provide a footway over the temporary bridge.
In addition, for the duration of the scheme, the lay-by just west of the existing bridge will be out of action as it will be used as a site compound.
The company has contacted the land owner to the east of the bridge to find possible parking for hill walkers, but this has not proved possible, so hill walkers may have to find suitable parking further east.