Share

Temporary popping required for historic bridge

Temporary propping to an historic Deeside bridge, the Balmoral Bridge, will begin on Thursday, October 13 and is scheduled to last three weeks.

The work, close to the Queen’s Deeside holiday home, is necessary due to prolonged exposure of timber to surface water run-off.

During the period of the works the bridge will be closed to all vehicles between 9am-5pm.

Pedestrian access will be maintained, but there will be some short periods during the day when this will not be possible for safety reasons.

All vehicles to and from the A93 across the River Dee will be diverted via Ballater Bridge in Ballater, along the B976 South Deeside Road and to the west of Ballater.

Head of roads and landscape services for Aberdeenshire Council, Philip McKay, said: “It has become necessary to carry out temporary propping works on Balmoral Bridge as a precursor to a more comprehensive permanent scheme for bridge refurbishment and strengthening, currently scheduled to be undertaken in 2013”.

Designed by Isambard Kingdom Brunel, Balmoral Bridge was constructed in 1857. It is a category-A listed heritage structure which carries the B976 over the River Dee near to Balmoral Castle.

70 views