Moray Council: Should we spend £30k on Cloddach Bridge?
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Councillors will decide next week whether an initial £30,000 should be put towards reopening Cloddach bridge.
The cash would be the first step in drawing down £1.5 million announced by Chancellor Jeremy Hunt in his March budget for the span near Birnie.
However, a full business case and match funding of 50% need to be in place before that money will be released.
Councillors will decide whether a £30,000 pre-feasibility study should be carried out ahead of a preparing business case to re-open the bridge.
In her report consultancy manager Debbie Halliday called it "unlikely" that a positive case could be made to carry out the work needed.
She said: "A full business case is estimated to cost in the region of £150,000 to prepare, and this would not be eligible for grant funding.
"Decisions from the council are needed to enable officers to navigate discussions with the UK Government, local community and other stakeholders relative to the future of the bridge."
Cloddach bridge has been closed to cars and vans since February 2022.
However it can still be used by pedestrians and cyclists.
Moray Council has estimated it would take almost £3million to replace the bridge and £2.34million to repair it.
The bridge's closure has caused difficulties for residents, including increased journey times for pupils going to school in Elgin.
The bridge has deteriorated over the last two decades.
In 2001 a 7.5 tonne weight restriction was applied, which was then lowered to three tonnes in 2019.
A 6ft height barrier was also put in place, but this was repeatedly hit by drivers in the months before it closed.
If the bridge is deemed to be unsafe it will be closed and demolished – a task with an estimated cost of £333,500.
