A video aimed at promoting the installation of a new bridge at Inverness has omitted the problems that caused the project to be delayed.

The 290-tonne Golden Bridge was expected be installed over the A9 in Inverness on Saturday night, but a mechanical fault with one of the hoisting jacks delayed the work, the BBC has said.

The section was then put into position overnight on Sunday.

However, on the official Highland and Islands Enterprise website, a promotional video was uploaded on Monday morning – with no mention of the problems.

On Wednesday, the 18 minute, 30 second film was still running without the information.


Interviewees on the video include senior staff from HIE and contractor Morgan Sindall.

HIE Chief Executive Alex Paterson is seen to be standing near the bridge on Saturday night, when he talks about hoping to see the bridge being installed in the "next half hour or so".

In addition, towards the end of the video, a contractor talks about how the operation was completed in one night and with minimum impact to users of the busy road.

In a statement, HIE admitted: "Due to a mechanical problem the installation of the 'Golden Bridge', linking the new Inverness Campus to the city centre, took one more night than was anticipated.

"Currently we have posted a video from the first night - including interviews and footage of the bridge being moved. When the second night's footage is available we will post it on the Inverness Campus website to show the completion of the process.

"We believe it's a striking new visual feature at a key entrance to the city and we hope local people and visitors will find it an attractive new addition to the built environment of the Highland capital."

The Golden Bridge is expected to be a key link between a new campus being built at Beechwood, and housing and businesses in the Raigmore area of the city.

(JP/CD)