Long term bridges plan unveiled for Aberdeenshire
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Aberdeenshire Councillors will be asked this week to approve a new ten year plan for repair works and replacement of ageing bridge structures across the north-east.
In a new report which goes before members of the infrastructure services committee, a prioritisation plan which was initiated in March of this year, sees the completion of extensive work by the bridges team to identify the structures most in need of action.
At present the approved capital budget for bridges works for the nine financial years 2021 (April 1) to 2030 (March 31) from the bridges and structures rolling programme line is £16,333,000.
In addition, a Capital Infrastructure Investment Fund line has been agreed and provided which allows a further £29,742,000 to be invested in bridges over the nine-year investment control period 2021/2030.
Aberdeenshire has also set aside £170k per annum to facilitate bridge replacements that may be necessary following a significant weather-related event in a single area, £100k per annum to facilitate the repair of scour damage which can lead to a bridge being closed, and if not repaired quickly, significant damage or even collapse, £100k per annum for prompt minor repairs to arrest rapid deterioration of bridges and £100k per annum to sustainably manage historic (listed) bridges.
The majority of the highest prioritised works are in the Marr and Kincardine and Mearns areas.
Topping the list is the Oatyhill Rail Bridge, which passes over the mainline and is to be assessed for a bulging wingwall which will either be in a position to be corrected, or the bridge removed in full.
At the head of the list in both Banff and Buchan and the Formartine areas is vital scour work needed at two historic bridges.
Banff Bridge requires major scour protection enhancement and strengthening bridge support foundations which are expected to cost around £3million, which the Deveron Bridge requires river training works and enhanced scour protection which is costed at around £70,000.
Bridges which were destroyed during the 2019 flooding in the King Edward area, and which earlier this year were confirmed as set to be replaced at Gorrachie, Mill of Balmaud and Millcroft are all included in the plans.
In total, the nine year plan sees 14 bridges included in the priority list for replacement including the Don Bridge in Inverurie (£6.2million) and the Boat of Hatton bridge at Kintore (£7.2million).
With works ongoing across the north-east, Aberdeenshire Council announced of Friday that the newly-constructed Bridge of Fortrie near King Edwards has been completed and reopened to traffic.
The original bridge was one of six which were washed away during the extreme flooding event in September 2019.
Designed to carry modern traffic, the new structure has a design life of 120 years and has an increased waterway area and steel sheet piling in order to protect the bridge from being undermined during any future extreme weather events.
A spokesperson said: "Once funding had been secured, the council’s bridges team was quickly mobilised to deliver the new bridge, however construction of the deck was delayed slightly due to recent material shortages within the UK construction industry.
"We would like to thank all local residents and road users for their patience in waiting for this new structure to be completed - next up is the Bruntyards Culvert repair".
The funding for this has been allocated out of the washout restoration allocation for the 2019 event which has also seen funding put to the replacement of the North Litterty Bridge which was also damaged beyond repair.
