Laxford Bridge

{{short description|Stone arch bridge in northwest Scotland}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=December 2016}}

{{Use British English|date=December 2016}}

{{Infobox Bridge

|bridge_name =Laxford Bridge

|image =Laxford Bridge (geograph 3605846).jpg

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|carries =A838 road

|crosses =River Laxford

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|material = Stone rubble

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|complete =c.{{Start date and age|1834}}

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|heritage = Category B listed

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|coordinates = {{coord|58|22|29|N|05|01|01|W|region:GB_type:landmark|display=inline,title}}

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The Laxford Bridge is a stone arch bridge in Sutherland, Scotland which carries the A838 across the River Laxford north to Rhiconich and Durness.

The bridge was built about 1834 by the Dukes of Sutherland – the road from Lairg, one of the "destitution roads" built during the potato famine, not being completed until 1851.{{cite web|title=Laxford Bridge|url=http://canmore.rcahms.gov.uk/en/site/4688/details/laxford+bridge/|work=Canmore|publisher=Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments of Scotland|accessdate=2 February 2014|url-status=live|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20140220164421/http://canmore.rcahms.gov.uk/en/site/4688/details/laxford%20bridge/|archivedate=20 February 2014|df=dmy-all}}{{cite news|title=Otters surveyed ahead of Laxford Bridge works|url=http://www.northern-times.co.uk/News/Otters-surveyed-ahead-of-Laxford-Bridge-works-28122012.htm|accessdate=2 February 2014|newspaper=Northern Times|date=28 December 2012}}{{cite web|last=Taylor|first=Ashley|title=All purpose fleet meets Sutherland's needs|url=http://archive.commercialmotor.com/article/11th-november-1955/145/by-ashley-taylor|work=Commercial Motor Archive|accessdate=2 February 2014|pages=144–145|date=11 November 1955}} The bridge is a category B listed building.{{Historic Environment Scotland|num=LB446|desc=Laxford Bridge over River Laxford|cat=B|access-date=28 March 2019}}

An army transporter crashed on the bridge in 2009 causing so much damage that it had to be closed to traffic. Detours of at least {{convert|60|mi|disp=flip|abbr=off}} were required (off-road) and the additional distance by road was {{convert|100|mi|disp=flip|abbr=off}}.{{cite news|title=Army truck falls 30ft into river|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/highlands_and_islands/8285131.stm|accessdate=2 February 2014|newspaper=BBC News|date=1 October 2009}}