Crumbling bridge set for festive demolition

Structure is beyond repair and will be brought down over Christmas holiday

A Mearns bridge which could collapse on to a stretch of rail line is to be demolished over Christmas Eve, Christmas Day and Boxing Day.

The crumbling 170-year-old Abbeyton Bridge – also known locally as the Cocketty Bridge – carries the B966 across the rail line and is threatening the safety of trains.

The bridge has been closed since July after inspections found serious structural failings in the stonework.

A one-way system was previously introduced to reduce strain, but a recent assessment of its condition concluded that had not prevented it from falling deeper into disrepair.

Specialist contractors will spend 55 hours demolishing the structure, just north of Fordoun, starting at 10pm on Christmas Eve after the last train of the day. Work will continue on Christmas Day and Boxing Day, when no trains are scheduled to run.

Aberdeenshire Council’s infrastructure services committee heard an emergency closure of the railway could cost the council around £1-3 million per day to cover disruption.

The cost of the demolition alone is expected to be in the region of £1m, more than one-third of the council’s £2.8m annual budget for bridges and other structures. This will delay planned works on other bridges and structures.

Mearns SNP councillor Leigh Wilson said: “Scheduling the works over Christmas while services aren’t running is the most sensible decision because it minimises the disruption to railway users and it also minimises the cost to the taxpayer.

“The Mearns is in a difficult position because we have such a high concentration of old bridges here and a lot of them are reaching the end of their lifespan.”

At this time no decision has been taken as to whether or not Abbeyton Bridge should be replaced.

The council’s bridges manager Donald Macpherson added: “The only way to remove the risk posed by this bridge to the railway line below is to remove the bridge itself, as it cannot be repaired.

“If all goes well the work will be completed by 5am on Thursday December 27 in time for the railway returning to normal service.”

“The only way to remove the risk posed by this bridge to the railway line below is to remove the bridge itself. DONALD MACPHERSON, ABERDEENSHIRE COUNCIL

Abbeyton Bridge, also known as Cocketty Bridge, is beyond repair and will be demolished.