Crisis funding from the Scottish Government has been activated for Moray as the region battles to recover from damage caused by torrential rain.
Deluges south of Fochabers in recent days have caused mud and rubble to plunge across roads, leaving them impassable to motorists.
Yesterday, council staff tried to shore up a bridge in the area amid concerns that, if it also has to be shut, it would cut off access to about 16 properties.
Inspections of the Delfur crossing near Boat O’ Brig, following the heavy rain, revealed significantly more erosion since it was previously checked in September last year with masonry blocks becoming dislodged.
Sandbags have been placed at the foot of the bridge to strengthen it and temporary traffic lights have been installed to get drivers to slow down.
Council staff will visit the crossing again this morning and in the evening, in the midst of forecasts for more rain, to ensure the water level has not increased and the make-shift defences have remained in place.
The Speyside Way was also closed, about two miles south of Fochabers yesterday, following a landslip that has caused the bank to become unstable.
Meanwhile, the Scottish Government has granted the authority access to funding from the Bellwin scheme to cover the cost of repairs.
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The move comes amid concerns that the clear-up bill will stretch to more than the £428,000 the council has to cover, with Holyrood picking up the rest of the tab.
Council leader Graham Leadbitter said: “We don’t know how much the work will cost, but the fact the funding has been activated helps staff plan their response financially to emergency incidents like this.
“There may still be consequences the council is unaware of at this stage, so this gives a degree of comfort in coordinating the response.”
Warnings have already been issued that the Cairnty Road, near Mulben, could be shut until the end of the month after the landslip left the carriageway undermined.
However, it is hoped that the Ordiequish Road, near Inchberry, will be open next week.
Moray MSP Richard Lochhead praised the response from council staff as well as emergency services and volunteers to the extreme weather.
He added: “The heavy rain has made it a challenging few days with flash flooding causing disruption and damage to local infrastructure.”
A Moray Council spokeswoman said: “The Bellwin scheme specifies what can and can’t be claimed, at this point we are not in a position to say the extent of the claim and the specifics of what it will cover.”
