Highland Council is struggling to repair an iconic bridge over the River Ness.
Cash is in hand to fix the broken decking of the Infirmary Bridge in Inverness, but materials are out of stock.
The council said it “understands and appreciates the frustration that people are feeling with the inconvenience of the bridge closure”.
However, the specially-made deck panels are impossible to source because the raw materials are unattainable.
It could opt for different materials, but those to are hard to find.
The council is “actively seeking materials for the bridge repairs” but said the problems in supply, down to “high demand nationally on DIY-related products for timber decking” are outwith their control.
‘Crossing like no other’
The Infirmary Bridge is one of the most photogenic and popular footbridges in Inverness.
It was previously agreed that it would receive more than £500,000 for much-needed repairs.
The condition of the 140-year-old crossing has been giving concern for a number of years.
It supports an average of 40,000 crossings a month, rising to 68,000 at peak times.
But due to its wobbliness, it has to be closed during big events in Bught Park.
It would take up to £5million to replace the bridge, so councillors have agreed that £550,000 will be taken out of Highland Council’s coffers to fix Infirmary Bridge up for another quarter of a century’s use.
Running repairs have been regularly carried out on the bridge from the council’s £64,000 budget covering all Inverness bridge repairs, but the deterioration is now affecting its underside requiring expensive scaffolding.
The suspension foot-bridge had major repairs in 1977 and 1994.
It was constructed in cast-iron and was the work of W. Smith and Sons of the Ness Ironworks back in 1882.