§ Mr. G. Campbellasked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement on the breach which has appeared in the bridge over the Spey, on the main Aberdeen-Inverness road, and which has led to the prohibition since 6th May of all traffic except pedestrians on that part of the road.
§ Mr. RossOn Friday, 5th May, Moray County Council reported a hole 9 ft. × 3 ft. in the road surface on the bridge across the Spey at Fochabers. An engineer of the Scottish Development Department inspected the bridge on Saturday, and on his advice the bridge was closed to all but pedestrian traffic. A further inspection was made on Monday, and it is now expected that the bridge can be reopened in a month's time for traffic up to 12 tons. In the meantime traffic can use road B.9103 via Boat O'Brig, which adds two or three miles to the distance between Elgin and Keith, and my engineers are seeing what immediate improvements are necessary to this route. Plans will now be made for the reconstruction or replacement of the Fochabers Bridge.