Crucial repairs to a 19th century bridge could begin soon, after the council won a legal dispute with the landowner.
The Rob Roy Bridge in Culter, on the A93 North Deeside Road, is used by scores of commuters and holiday-makers coming in and out of Aberdeen every day.
But the aging structure is now at an “advanced stage of degradation”, and needs significant repair works.
Aberdeen City Council revealed plans for the repairs earlier this year, but claimed the project had been hampered as landowner Alastair Gordon was being “obstructive” – by demanding an “unreasonably high price” for allowing workers to access the site.
Members of the finance, policy and resources committee were told back in April that the cost had been so “unreasonable” that the authority should consider forcibly buying the land.
In their report council officers said: “It is due to the landowner’s reluctance to negotiate in a meaningful manner for temporary access to the bridge which would enable all the construction work to proceed that a compulsory purchase order for the land is required in tandem with further negotiations.”
But now the £800,000 project looks likely to begin within months, without the need for a compulsory purchase order.
The city council has put a public contract out for the works, with work scheduled to begin on November 16.
An Aberdeen City Council spokesman said: “Rob Roy Bridge forms part of the adopted road network and has long been identified as a structure requiring significant remedial works.
“Discussions are ongoing to finalise the agreement on access to the site and surrounding land as required for carrying out work on the bridge.
“We are co-ordinating the work for Rob Roy Bridge along with the programme of works for the Aberdeen Western Peripheral Route in order to keep disruption to the travelling public to a minimum.”
Last night Mr Gordon said: “It’s all sorted now.
“The council finally saw some sense.”