Major Keith bridge repairs could finish early, MSP says after meeting with Network Rail
Major repairs to an important bridge over a main railway line could be finished ahead of scheduled, an MSP has claimed.
Highlands and Islands Conservative MSP Tim Eagle has said he is hopeful that works at the Banff Turnpike bridge on the A95 near Keith will be completed before the original finish date of December 20.
The Buckie-based MSP recently visited the Banff Turnpike bridge, which is located just north of Keith and carries the A95 trunk road over the Aberdeen to Inverness railway line. Work was scheduled to start on August 20 and has seen that section of the road closed, with diversions in place.
Mr Eagle was briefed by representatives of Network Rail on site and had previously discussed the issue with Keith and Cullen councillor Tracy Colyer.
After the meeting he said: “As a regular user of the road myself, I fully understand the impact long-running roadworks have had on people and businesses.
“The delays and inconvenience can be deeply frustrating.
“However, I was encouraged by the briefing I received and, although there are no guarantees, I am hopeful that works will be completed before the forecast timescale of 126-days.
"Keith has had more than its fair share of roadworks recently and I think we will all be in a celebratory mood when the work is finally finished.”
Councillor Colyer added: “The disruption caused to local people has been a matter of real concern so any indication that an end in sight is very welcome.
“The truth is we have an inadequate road system here, and we also badly need to see progress on the A96 dualling which ministers in Holyrood have been promising for as long as I can remember.”
Allison Flanagan, project manager at Network Rail, added: "Work on the Banff Turnpike bridge renewal is progressing well and is on track to reopen as scheduled.
“This project is a vital investment in the long-term resilience of our railway infrastructure, helping to safeguard connectivity for communities across the north-east.
“We remain grateful to the local community for their continued patience and support as we carry out these essential improvements. Our teams are working hard to minimise disruption, and we’ll continue to keep everyone updated as the project moves forward.”