IMAGES TAKEN NEAR TO
Seabegs Road, BONNYBRIDGE, FK4 2BP

Appears to be sole remains of former foundry

Looking to the lifting bridge

The reflection of a narrowboat can be seen under the bridge.

Two boats returning from a rally at Auchinstarry near Kilsyth, a short private narrowboat called "Nola's Ark" after its owner and a restored 1936 gentleman's launch named "Kelvin" after its builders, wait on the Forth & Clyde Canal at the pontoon at Bonnybridge for the lifting bridge in the background to be raised by British Waterways personnel. One should add that they do so by pressing buttons and setting hydraulic pumps in action; they do not get underneath and lift it bodily on their shoulders like Atlas supporting the world.

Safety concerns over this (and another) bridge on the Forth and Clyde Canal have led to them being closed for some time https://www.scottishcanals.co.uk/news/bridge-restrictions-operational-changes/ The Inland Waterways Association "has told Scottish Canals that the current indefinite closure of the Forth & Clyde Canal is unacceptable. This follows the claim by Scottish Canals that it does not have the funds necessary to repair two lift bridges … The two lift bridges, at Twechar and Bonnybridge, are situated around the middle of the Scottish lowlands canal, and their closure would affect all local traffic, the hire boat trade and any seagoing craft wishing to traverse the canal from one coast to the other." https://www.waterways.org.uk/news/view?id=346 This must explain why, on a 17 mile walk along the canal over a period of three days I didn't see any craft moving along the canal. The towpath, on the other hand, was well used by cyclists.

Spans the Forth and Clyde Canal at Bonnybridge.

View eastwards (probably), towards former buffer-stops of old terminus of branch from Greenhill, closed to passengers 22/7/30, to goods 7/12/64. (Nothing railway-related to be seen!)

Coming from Lock 17, a motor sailing yacht approaches Bonnybridge Lifting Bridge. The new bridge replaced a bascule bridge.

Hydraulic lifting bridge on the B816 over the Forth and Clyde canal at Bonnybridge. For many years, the canal was unnavigable at this point as there was minimal clearance for vessels. When the canal was reopened, a hydraulic bridge which raised the roadway to allow passage was installed. The lifting is done by four columns, one in each corner. Similar bridges exist at Twechar and Grangemouth. However the mechanism fell into disrepair and the bridge became non-operational (the same at Twechar) meaning that coast to coast navigation was again impossible. The mechanisms were repaired in 2019, before the canal festival, when this picture was taken.

Spans the Forth and Clyde Canal at Bonnybridge.