National Highways finished a £2 million restoration of the Westfield Viaduct in West Lothian, wrapping up in December 2022. Built between 1854 and 1855, the 60‑foot structure once carried the Monkland Railway and was part of the North British Railway until the line closed in 1964.
The project tackled weather‑damaged masonry, waterproofed the arches, replaced parapets, cleared vegetation, and installed new cast‑iron plates that match the original design. Engineers removed weathered stone and replaced it with material colour‑matched to the original unweathered masonry.
Ecologists surveyed the viaduct before work and found bats nesting in gaps between the stonework. Abseilers guided by licensed ecologists inspected the arches, while drones mapped hard‑to‑reach sections. Temporary bat boxes and bricks were put in place during hibernation and later incorporated into the restored stonework as permanent roosts.
The restoration earned the Translink Structures Award at the National Railway Heritage Awards. Helene Rossiter, head of the Historical Railways Estate, said the project would keep the nearly 170‑year‑old viaduct standing as a reminder of West Lothian’s industrial past while providing a lasting habitat for bats.