Aberdeenshire is suffering from a large-scale problem of crumbling bridges, so much so that it requires a significant funding of £3.35 million to be able to bring them back into good condition.
The Press and Journal revealed that 65 out of its 1,800 bridges are in a substandard state, making it the worst council in the whole of Scotland when it comes to the state of its bridges.
It is believed repairing the structures, from replacing bridge bearings to completing bridge re-constructions, will cost the local authority £3.35 million in total, according to figures revealed by the Tories to the news provider recently.
A spokesperson from Aberdeenshire Council responded by saying: “We have suffered years of under-funding resulting in a rapidly deteriorating bridge stock which will not be able to meet the demands of the increasing traffic volume and loading in the coming years if left unchecked.”
RAC Foundation research recently reported that Aberdeenshire was the worst region in Scotland for its bridges, while it also took tenth position in the whole of the UK.
This is likely to be due to the fact that the majority of the structures were built as long ago as the early 18th Century, with a considerable number constructed prior to the national standards, which came into effect in 1922.
Once bridges reach a certain age, maintenance is essential to ensure they can still hold weight and are safe to use.
Earlier this year, work began on Pembroke Road railway bridge in Wales to refit it, with the original structure first being constructed more than 100 years ago.