A new £200,000 footbridge is be built in Cromdale, Speyside.
The replacement bridge will be wider than the existing structure for pedestrians, which is worn out and in need of repair.
It is adjacent to the A95 road bridge which crosses the Cromdale Burn.
The new structure will be 6ft6 wide, allowing for easier access for wheelchairs, mobility scooters, pushchairs and cyclists by providing a paved footpath and removing the narrow turns at the north end of the footbridge.
New energy-efficient LED lighting will also be added which is designed to be brighter while producing less glare.
The project is expected to take up to eight weeks to complete, with teams to start on site from Monday July 31.
The bridge will be closed to pedestrians during the work. A temporary footway will be added to the road bridge, with temporary crossing points installed at either end of the scheme.
One overnight closure of the A95 Keith to Grantown road is required to install the new footbridge by a large crane, which will be stationed immediately north of the road bridge. This is currently scheduled to take place in mid-September on a Saturday night when traffic flows are reduced. Further details along with diversion plans will be issued in the coming weeks once an exact date is confirmed.
Bear Scotland is hosting a public exhibition on Monday July 24 in Cromdale Community Hall to share information about the project.
Andy Thompson, Bear Scotland’s North East Representative said: “We’re pleased to begin the footbridge replacement project in Cromdale which will see a huge difference to the current pedestrian facilities in the area.
“The new wider bridge will make it much easier to cross and we’ve designed the structure to remove the tight, narrow bends which are at currently either end of the footbridge.
“We’ve also taken steps to ensure that pedestrian access is maintained during the upgrades.
“We’re liaising with all relevant stakeholders to raise awareness of this and we’ll make sure to share with them the final arrangements once the details are confirmed.”
