Crumbling bridge will undergo £250,000 programme of works

More than £250,000 will be spent on measures to protect the crumbling Inverbervie Bridge.

Aberdeenshire Council has approved a package of works, including weight monitoring equipment and extra steps to stop traffic causing further damage to the 1935 crossing which carries the A92.

The authority also intends to carry out a feasibility study into the possibility of a major refurbishment in future.

Calls for improvements to the 656ft crossing have grown after daylight appeared through cracks in the brickwork. Temporary barriers have been installed to protect the parapet. The maintenance package will also include the installation of equipment to gauge the weight of crossing vehicles.

Mearns SNP councillor Leigh Wilson said: “Local councillors had asked for long-term plans regarding a possible new bridge but carrying out this remedial work should extend the life of the bridge by around 25 years.

“In the future, with the opening of the AWPR and the Laurencekirk flyover, the local road network will be more able to absorb disruption from such a large project. The work proposed is the most sensible decision to take at the current time.”

Aberdeenshire bridges manager Donald Macpherson said: “The first element is installation of a weigh in motion system to measure the weights of vehicles to determine if overloading is occurring and at what frequency.

“The second is to put in additional measures to restrain vehicles over and above the containment provided by existing parapets.”

Councillor Leigh Wilson said remedial work should extend the life of the bridge by around 25 years.