Residents in two north-east villages have found themselves at the centre of a “perfect storm of road closures”.
And they are increasingly concerned they will be completely cut off, following another bridge being shut.
The 200-year-old crossing over the Red Burn on the B979 between Newmachar and Hatton of Fintray was found to have partially collapsed on Friday evening and has been closed in both directions.
Since September, neighbouring settlements of Hatton of Fintray and Kinmuck have been subjected to simultaneous road closures, firstly with planned bridge repairs at Kinmuck and also on the B977 between Dyce and Cothall Road.
Wayne Gault has lived in Hatton of Fintray for 13 years and recalled being cut off “a few times” due to flooded roads.
And he said: “I’m just waiting for another flood or another road closure and that will be us cut off again.
“Fintray is used as a rat run to and from Dyce, and since the Cothall road has been shut, they’ve been using the even smaller back roads to get there – they’re covered with potholes and extremely dangerous.”
Although it was originally expected to close for just eight weeks, the B977 between Dyce and Cothall has now been out of action for 19 weeks.
Kinmuck resident Charlie Lamb said: “We have to take a 15-mile diversion to get to Dyce – it’s obviously having an effect on all the small roads.
“What is frustrating is that we have had no communication at all to tell us when either road will be open again.”
Last night, an Aberdeenshire Council spokesman couldn’t give a timeframe for the repairs to the Red Burn Bridge.
He added: “Part of the arch of the 200-year-old bridge is broken. At this stage, it is unclear when the road will be reopened.”
Councillor Martin Ford lives near the bridge and has urged swift action from the council to either “repair or rebuild” the busy link road.
He said: “We also need to push the AWPR authorities to re-open the B977 as soon as possible.”
A Transport Scotland spokesman responded: “As is normal practice across construction projects, all diversion routes and temporary local road closures, for the AWPR project, are agreed between the contractor, Aberdeen Roads Limited (ARL) and the relevant local authority.
“ARL is currently scheduling to reopen the B977 Echt to Balmedie Road during the week commencing Monday, February 26.”
