10 September 2019

Community information sessions to discuss Park Bridge begin this week

A series of community information sessions to examine options to maintain the historic Park Bridge, which spans the River Dee near Drumoak, begin today (Tuesday, September 10). 

The sessions will give attendees the chance to give feedback on a series of options to maintain the 165-year-old A-listed bridge, on the C35 unclassified road, over the coming years.  

The first session takes place on Tuesday, September 10 from 3pm to 6pm at Durris Kirkton Hall in Durris.  

The second session is between 3pm and 6pm on Tuesday, September 17 at Crathes Public Hall in Crathes.
 
A third drop-in session will be hosted within Drumoak Church Hall on Tuesday, September 24 between 5.30pm and 7.30pm. 

The bridge was closed in February this year after engineers carried out a routine detailed inspection and found serious structural defects throughout the bridge. 

For the meantime, the nearest River Dee crossings are to the west via the A957 over the Durris Bridge at Crathes, or to the east over the B979 Maryculter Bridge at Milltimber.
The A-listed two-span cast iron bridge was built in 1854 by James Abernethy, spanning 86 metres across the river.
 
Donald MacPherson, Aberdeenshire Council’s Bridges and Structures Manager, said: “I hope as many people as possible can attend the three community information sessions. 

“We will be providing information about the current state of Park Bridge as well as listening to your views and feedback about available options for how it can be maintained in the future. 

“Aberdeenshire is blessed with a number of historic bridges spanning the length and breadth of this beautiful corner of north east Scotland. 

“However, whilst the council will endeavour for them to be used by motorists and pedestrians, we must ensure they are safe and viable. This is why your views are so important in helping shape our plans for how we maintain Aberdeenshire’s bridges in the future.”