A VITAL road bridge linking Moray with north Aberdeenshire could be at risk of serious damage if urgent repairs are not carried out.
Councillors have agreed to a series of bridge repairs across the region – including the Banff Bridge which joins the town with neighbouring Macduff.
The span makes up part of the A98 Fochabers to Fraserburgh route carrying Moray traffic to parts of Buchan.
Describing the crucial works to be done to the historic crossing, roads officer Alan Burns told councillors that damage to its support pillars would only get worse as strong tides batter them.
Troup member Mark Findlater of Aberdeenshire Council’s Banff and Buchan area committee asked what the nature of the work to be done was and how urgently it was required.
He was told that because the bridge’s foundations were constructed from timber, further scouring – a form of erosion – could wear the protective concrete away exposing the wood.
Mr Burns said: “During repairs many years ago, the stonework which diverts the flow of water around the pillars was removed.
“Now the water is hitting them at full force, causing this scouring to occur. Without works to reinstate the stoneworks this situation will only get worse and could put the structure at risk in future.”
Mr Burns said that repairing the stonework in a V-shape would divert the water around the endangered pillars.
While the £110,000 repairs are being carried out, one lane of the bridge will be closed for short periods to allow materials to be craned down and all work will be done at low tide.
Banff councillor and committee chairman John Cox said that he hoped motorists would be understanding due to the urgent nature of the repairs to the bridge.
He said: “The monetary cost of carrying out these repairs is high but it is insignificant when compared to the economic impact that the bridge being closed would cause.
“With the speed of the water and the weather we have experienced in recent years any further damage to the bridge is going to cause a chain reaction of damage.”
He added: “The integrity of the crossing must be protected and that is why these repairs are so important.
“It is not the first time repairs have been done to the bridge and while I appreciate they will cause some inconvenience for motorists there are alternative routes available.
“I also think that this situation brings up again the need for a foot crossing over the Deveron so that 24-hour access between the two towns can be maintained at all times.
“I look forward to these proposals coming back before the committee again as part of the Banff regeneration strategy.”
If the bridge were to be closed, as was the case in 2003, then motorists could be left facing a major detour – a 25-mile route through Aberchirder and Turriff.
A total of £700,000 will be spent across Aberdeenshire this year to bring bridges up to scratch. Almost £250,000 of that will be spent in both Buchan and Banff and Buchan. 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.
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.