Dumfries and Galloway Council admits new Kirkcudbright bridge is 'years' away
The local authority has also ruled out installing a temporary crossing on cost grounds.
A new bridge for Kirkcudbright is 'years' away.
And a temporary crossing has been ruled out on cost grounds.
The stark situation is outlined in a report for next week's meeting of the council's economy and resources infrastructure committee.
The bridge, which is nearly 100 years old, was closed at the end of March after engineering experts Mott MacDonald raised safety concerns.
It is due to reopen on July 2, allowing for cars and light vans up to three tonnes crossing the bridge in single file.
Temporary traffic lights will be installed initially, with permanent lights in the pipeline.
The reopening of the bridge has been welcomed by local residents, however, they are keen to see a new bridge as soon as possible.
But in his report, engineering design manager Duncan McDonald states: 'Officers have started to consider options to develop an indicative cost of a new bridge as well as timescales associated with this.
'Due to the complexities of work required to develop a new bridge for Kirkcudbright, it is anticipated that this will take years, however, officers are committed to developing this and will follow due diligence in order to seek correct member approval.'
The report outlines no fewer than seven stages that would need to be completed – from a feasbility study and options appraisal to finding a contractor and building the bridge.
Galloway and West Dumfries MP John Cooper had called on the Army to build a temporary bridge while the main crossing couldn't be used.
However, Mr McDonald says that building a Bailey Bridge – as used during World War Two – isn't practical.
The width of the river would require several spans, not just one, requiring foundations to be built.
That would mean riverbed and bank investigations which 'would take several months to organise and undertake at significant cost'.
The foundations would also require a lengthy period of time, meaning there is little chance of a temporary bridge to be built 'within a reasonably short-term period'.
Building a temporary bridge over the footprint of the existing one also has 'several major issues to be overcome and risks managed'.
The report notes that Mott MacDonald feel 'after further analyses and complex modelling' they do not now feel there would be 'a significant risk to public safety' to reopen the bridge to three tonne vehicles – as long as traffic management measures are put inplace.
Data indicates that 90 per cent of the 20,000 vehicle crossings on the bridge every week fall into the three-tonne car and light van limit, meaning reopening the bridge 'would see most of the travelling public either side of the Dee reconnected'.
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