Aberdeenshire Council is expected to spend almost three-quarters of a million pounds this year repairing bridges throughout the north- east.
A total of £700,000 has been set aside by the authority for its bridge, culvert and retaining wall maintenance works scheme.
This includes an allowance of £60,000 for non-recoverable expenses for dealing with road accidents and other emergencies.
Almost £250,000 would be spent in both the Buchan and Banff and Buchan committee areas if all suggested projects go ahead.
The Banff Bridge – which links the town to neighbouring Macduff – will receive a £110,000 facelift as part of an ongoing programme of repairs and maintenance.
A list of proposed projects for the year 2014-15 in the Buchan area – including a heritage repair of the Bishops Bridge near Cruden Bay – was recently approved by members of the Buchan area committee with a total expected cost of £134,000.
Also on the list was a bridge close to the home of First Minister Alex Salmond at Strichen after a study revealed that the state of the B-listed structure had deteriorated and become hazardous.
Members of the council’s Banff and Buchan area committee will meet on Tuesday to decide on proposed projects for their area, which are expected to cost a total of £199,000 to carry out.
In a report to go before members, the council’s director of infrastructure services, Stephen Archer, states: “Remedial works to defects which pose an unacceptable risk to public safety will remain the highest priority.
“For other types of work, including preventative maintenance to maximise the service life of existing structures, it is proposed to give priority to A and B Class roads and single-access roads to communities.
“The works contained within the programme will be carried out using both in-house resources and external contractors employed through the appropriate tendering process.”
Other bridges proposed for improvements in Banff and Buchan this year include new concrete linings to a crossing at Ashogle near Turriff with a price tag of £23,000 and masonry repairs to the Bridge of Fortrie costing £6,000. A reserve list for each area has been suggested with plans which would be carried out if funds became available.