Ex Swedish army bridges help conserve SAC

Forestry and Land Scotland’s (FLS) recycling of two Swedish ex-army bridges has helped cut costs – and conserve a Special Area of Conservation (SAC).

Sold online by a specialist company that deals in army surplus, the bridges – designated as “war bridges” in the army manual – were purchased by FLS for use in East and South Scotland.

In Aberdeenshire, one of the bridges provided temporary access to a quarry and allowed repairs to be made to an existing bridge that had been damaged in severe flooding.

The bridge in South Scotland was split in to two separate bridges used to access areas of forest due for harvesting operations and re-stocking.

FLS Civil Engineer, Elaine McClymont, who planned and organised the works in South Scotland, said;

“It was a great find and a perfect solution.

“The design and size of the bridge meant that it could be easily split into two smaller bridges that could be put together within a day and without the need for special components.

“Being army design, they’re rugged, robust and more than capable of dealing with forestry traffic.

“The bridges, now at Loch Trool and Penninghame, were installed quickly and with minimal impact on the river banks.

“And to cap it all, once they’ve served their purpose here, the bridges can easily be dismantled and moved to another location where they might be needed.”

The innovative solution was not only effective but also helped FLS make significant savings.

To purchase and install a standard modular bridge can typically cost in the region of £130k. The ‘two’ new bridges in south Region were purchased and installed for less than £80k.

The bridge in Aberdeenshire was installed at a cost of £5k, with a further £2k spent on dismantling it.

Notes to Editors

Forestry and Land Scotland (FLS) manages forests and land owned by Scottish Ministers in a way that supports and enables economically sustainable forestry; conserves and enhances the environment; delivers benefits for people and nature; and supports Scottish Ministers in their stewardship of Scotland's national forests and land.
Home - Forestry and Land Scotland | twitter.com/ForestryLS
Media enquiries to Paul Munro, Senior Media Manager, Forestry and Land Scotland Media Office 07785 527590 or paul.munro@forestryandland.gov.scot