Case Studies

This important pedestrian bridge giving access to the Pentland Hills Regional Park was replaced in a joint project between West Lothian Council and City of Edinburgh Council.

The bridge across the Water of Leith, south of Kirknewton, forms the administrative boundary between the two council areas. The old timber footbridge near Leithhead Farm and Mill was showing signs of deterioration and with scour in the river bank, the abutments were being undermined.

Works included installation of new concrete abutments, installation of the new Ekki timber bridge deck, improvements to the approach path and green bank protection to the river edges.

Councillor Damian Timson, vice chair of the Pentland Hills Regional Park Joint Committee, added: “We are delighted with the new bridge. I am keen that West Lothian residents are made more aware of the great resource of the Pentland Hills Regional Park that lies on their door step. Improvements to bridges and paths like the Leithhead bridge project help facilitate responsible public access are to be welcomed.”

Tom Conn, West Lothian’s executive councillor for the environment added: “The new, sustainably procured, hardwood bridge should last for at least twice as long as the previous bridge. Possibly, 50-70 years and I’m particularly pleased that the engineers designed natural willow planting in the riverbank to strengthen and naturalise the slope.”