Border-spanning viaduct restoration complete

56 minutes ago

News image — The viaduct's southern half is located in England and its northern portion in Scotland

National Highways A bird's eye view of the viaduct, cutting across the river valley diagonally in a gentle curve, its pillars visible. The river is dark and there is green grassland and bare trees on both banks. — The viaduct's southern half is located in England and its northern portion in Scotland

Repairs to secure the long-term future of one of the most distinctive structures spanning the England–Scotland border has been completed.

Riddings Viaduct was built in 1864 on the branch line between Carlisle, in Cumbria, and Langholm, in Dumfries and Galloway, but fell into disrepair when the line closed in 1967.

Restoration work included filling gaps in the stonework, fixing damaged sections and restoring railings along the bridge's edges, using material matching the original to preserve its appearance.

National Highways, which carried out the repairs, said: "Working on a structure that spans two countries brings unique challenges."

Riddings Viaduct's southern half is in England and its northern portion in Scotland.

It has listed status in both nations - Grade II* south of the border and Category A to the north.

Built by the Northern British Railway, the line's unusual route crossed the border three times in under 20 miles (32km), including over the viaduct itself.

National Highways A close-up view of a viaduct looking through one semicircular stone arch to the river beyond. The odd diagonal stonework of the arch is clearly visible. It spans a river which can be seen in the background, with green fields to either side. — The skewed nine-span masonry arch viaduct is faced in red sandstone ashlar

National Highways engineer Colin McNicol said: "Working on a structure that spans two countries brings unique challenges.

"We've worked closely with partners in both England and Scotland to meet the distinct heritage and ecological requirements on each side of the border."

He added: "Our work will preserve this iconic viaduct, allowing people in both countries to enjoy its beauty for many years to come."