SYSTRA designers lead South Lanarkshire’s replacement River Clyde bridge at Carstairs

South Lanarkshire Council asked SYSTRA to design a cost-effective River Clyde crossing to replace the original Pettinain Road Bridge near Carstairs, 30 miles southeast of Glasgow. The original bridge was closed to road traffic in 2018 for structural safety reasons. The new bridge crossing was formally opened at a ceremony on Monday, 22nd April 2024, restoring a much needed and well-used route for the local community.

SYSTRA’s Signature Team used a proprietary ‘Mabey’ bridge truss design without piers for the new 90m span crossing, making it the second longest ‘Mabey’ bridge in the UK. The total cost of the works is significantly lower compared to typical permanent bridge crossing solutions – this was justified by the rural location and relatively low amount of road traffic. The bridge was launched from the south side of the river, and the construction of the bridge had minimal impact upon the river’s natural habitat and its riverbanks which was a key design factor.

SYSTRA’s designers work on bridge projects throughout the UK and globally. In the UK, the team is currently working on several highway and rail viaducts and bridges for HS2 near Birmingham as well as bridge and viaduct structures along the Transpennine Route Upgrade (TRU East) between Leeds and York

Jon Iribarren, Principal Engineer (Bridges) at SYSTRA, said: “The team worked collaboratively with South Lanarkshire Council to make sure the right solution was found to deliver the Council’s accessibility, safety and environmental goals within budget. The new bridge is an asset to the local community and will improve the quality of life for many people.” Council Leader Joe Fagan said: “This new bridge restores a much needed and well used link for the local community. As well as vehicles, it will also promote active travel with pedestrian access, and it feeds into the wider cycle network for the area.”