Essential repairs to Arran’s Allt Mor Bridge

North Ayrshire Council has confirmed that ongoing repair works to the Allt Mor Bridge on Arran’s String Road will need to be extended after further inspections revealed more extensive repairs are required.

The additional works mean that, when repairs resume in late April, a full road closure will be necessary to allow specialist plant and equipment to safely access the bridge and carry out the repairs.

The council is aware of concerns about the impact of the works, particularly during the busy Easter holiday period. Therefore, to help reduce disruption, a decision has been taken to complete preparatory work under the current traffic management arrangements and then suspend works over the Easter holidays.

During this time, the bridge will remain open to traffic using single‑lane signal control from Thursday, 2 April, throughout the holiday period. Repair works will then restart on Monday, 20 April, at which point a full day‑and‑night road closure on the B880 String Road will be required for up to three weeks.

A North Ayrshire Council spokesperson said: “We recognise how disruptive road closures can be, particularly for our island communities and for local businesses who rely on tourism. That is why we have taken the decision to pause the main phase of these works over the Easter holiday period.

“Unfortunately, further inspections have shown that these repairs are more extensive than originally anticipated, and a full closure will be unavoidable when work resumes. These critical repairs are essential for public safety and delaying them further is not an option.

“We apologise for the inconvenience this temporary closure may cause and appreciate the patience and understanding of the Arran community while this critical work is carried out.”

While works are paused, the contractor will continue to monitor the condition of the bridge daily to ensure it remains safe for traffic. Should the situation change, the council will review arrangements immediately to ensure public safety is not compromised.

Stakeholders are being advised of the upcoming closure to allow alternative access arrangements to be made. Regional transport partners have also been informed so that alternative school transport arrangements can be put in place where required.