An important Speyside road bridge has been reopened, following the construction of a £320,000 replacement.
The crossing, which connects the rural communities of Glenallachie and Edinville has been closed for four months while the work was carried out.
Residents, who regularly travelled over the quaint timber-clad steel-frame bridge have had to use diversions since it was shut in June.
Investigations discovered the old structure was no longer safe and needed to be replaced, following an emergency closure in 2012.
Speyside Glenlivet councillor Pearl Paul explained that residents in Edinville would have their journey times to Aberlour halved now the new Lour Burn crossing was open.
She said: “It’s a busy little bridge. You get a lot of farmers going back and forth over there to get to their fields. It’s going to make a big difference for them.
“It has been shut for a good while now, so it’s nice to see it back open for business again.”
The old crossing has been demolished with a new two-span structure now open after being lowered into position.
Wider vehicles will now be able to cross the bridge with a footpath added to increase safety for pedestrians.
Moray Council engineer Alasdair Donnelly, who has overseen the refurbishment project, is sure it will be an improvement for residents.
He said: “The diversions, which have been in place, will have caused some inconvenience, but I hope everyone will agree the new bridge has been worth the wait.”
