Major improvements worth £200,000 are set to take place on the A96 Fochabers Old Bridge, the old footbridge over the River Spey, with works scheduled to begin next week.
The project will involve teams carrying out extensive refurbishment works to maintain the historical structure, which was originally built in 1806. The project will include the installation of new pedestrian barrier, segregated footway and cycle paths, renewing the drainage and improving the surface of the bridge for users. This will ensure the bridge remains safe and operational for years to come.
The bridge improvements are set to begin on Thursday 25 March and are programmed to take place between 7:30am and 6pm each day with the project expected to take approximately five weeks to complete.
The A96 will remain fully open to motorists however the bridge will be closed to pedestrians and cyclists throughout the project. Signed diversions will be in place via a nearby footway.
Consultation has taken place with all relevant stakeholders in advance of the resurfacing improvements to make them aware of the traffic management arrangements and to minimise any inconvenience.
Strict physical distancing protocols, in line with Scottish Government COVID-19 guidance, will be in place to ensure all site personnel remain safe once the project gets underway. New safe operation procedures and risk assessments have also been developed to ensure teams are kept safe throughout the project.
Commenting on the improvements, Ian Stewart, BEAR Scotland’s North East Unit Representative, said: “This £200,000 investment from Transport Scotland will help ensure that the A96 Old Fochabers Bridge remains in a safe working condition for years to come.
“The traffic management is essential to ensure the safety of our workforce as well as pedestrian and cyclists during this project.
“We thank motorists for their patience in advance while our teams carry out these repairs on Fochabers Bridge and encourage road users to plan their journeys in advance by checking the Traffic Scotland website for up to date journey information and allow some extra time to reach their destination.”
Real-time journey planning information can be obtained by visiting www.trafficscotland.org, twitter at @trafficscotland or via the new mobile site my.trafficscotland.org.
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