A railway viaduct built in 1854 was repaired with bat roosts hidden in its stonework; the £2 million project preserved a structure that trains stopped using in 1964 | World News

Scotland’s Westfield Viaduct, built between 1854 and 1855, underwent a £2 million restoration that repaired its historic stonework while creating permanent roosting spaces for bats. Located in Westfield, West Lothian, the 60-foot-high structure once carried the Monkland Railway extension before the railway line closed in 1964. The restoration included masonry repairs, waterproofing and replacement of damaged materials, with engineers taking measures to protect wildlife living in the structure. According to National Highways, the work was completed in December 2022, preserving the former railway viaduct as a reminder of Scotland’s industrial heritage.

Westfield Viaduct’s 1854 railway history and stonework’s industrial past

Built between 1854 and 1855, Westfield Viaduct formed part of an extension to the Monkland Railway, comprising 16 arches spanning land and water. The structure later became part of the North British Railway, carrying minerals and coal across the River Avon for transport to market. The railway line closed in 1964, ending its original transport role, but the viaduct remained a prominent feature of the West Lothian landscape. Standing approximately 60 feet high, the structure survived decades of exposure to wind and rain before its restoration programme addressed deterioration across its masonry and supporting features.

£2 million restoration repaired stonework and waterproofed the arches

The restoration programme addressed weather damage across the viaduct’s spans, with engineers and contractor Balfour Beatty developing plans to strengthen and waterproof the arches. Work began in 2021, and delays caused by the Covid pandemic provided an opportunity to expand the repairs. Weathered stone was removed and replaced with material colour-matched to the original unweathered masonry. The project also included repairs to the parapet running along the deck, vegetation clearance on both sides and the installation of new cast-iron pattress plates designed to match the originals. The work was completed in December 2022.

West elevation – span 8 prior to repair, November 2021 (Image: National Highways)

Bat roosts were incorporated into the historic viaduct’s stonework

Ecological surveys conducted before the main restoration work found that bats were using the viaduct as a habitat, while otters were present in the river below. Licensed ecologists guided abseilers as they inspected gaps between the masonry for signs of bat activity. Drones were also used to reduce the time workers spent accessing difficult sections of the structure. Temporary bat boxes, tubes and bricks provided alternative roosting spaces during hibernation periods while repairs continued. These features were subsequently incorporated into the viaduct as permanent bat roosts, allowing the restoration to address structural deterioration while retaining habitat within the historic masonry.

Westfield Viaduct restoration preserved a landmark of Scotland’s railway heritage

The completed project restored the viaduct’s stonework and structural features while retaining its historic appearance. National Highways reported that the work received recognition at the National Railway Heritage Awards, winning the Translink Structures Award. Judges praised the repairs, including the reproduction of the sandstone detailing along the parapet. Helene Rossiter, head of the Historical Railways Estate, said the restoration would allow the nearly 170-year-old structure to remain standing as a reminder of the area’s industrial past. Although the railway no longer operates across the viaduct, its repaired arches continue to form part of West Lothian’s historic landscape.