Elgin bridge brings £100,000 saving
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A SAVING of around £100,000 has been made on a new road bridge in Elgin.
Subcontractor Cleveland Bridge has been appointed to build the span over the River Lossie at Pansport, as part of the town’s flood alleviation project.
Dave Gowans, Moray flood scheme manager, said there was no requirement for works to be carried out in the river for the bridge build, which reduced costs and lowered safety risk.
The £86 million Elgin scheme is the largest flood alleviation project to be undertaken in Scotland, and is the biggest civil engineering works to be carried out by Moray Council.
John Divers, Labour councillor for Elgin South, said: "Any savings made have to be welcomed.
"The council did not receive the 80% funding expected for the Elgin scheme from the Scottish Government and council tax payers will be paying an extra £1 million a year for the next 20 years as a result."
Work on the project began in April.
Buildings around the Pansport Road area of the town have already been demolished, including the Kingsmills Bar, and construction has begun on the Lesmurdie and Chanonry defence walls.
The scheme is slightly behind schedule because of the need to repair a landslip at Lesmurdie, issues in moving businesses out of Grampian Road and the possibility of planning permission being required for work at Deanshaugh playing fields.
The pitches have been unusable because of drainage problems.
Earth being removed to make way for the flood scheme will be used to build up the plying fields to rectify the problem.
The next schedule of work expected to be carried out includes progressing the detailed designs for Pansport bridge as well as issuing plans for a pumping station.
