Aberdeenshire residents are facing significant disruptions to their daily lives due to the widespread deterioration of local bridges, a new council report has revealed. The report found that more than 200 bridges in the region require urgent repair, restoration or major refurbishment, with an estimated £65 million needed to address the 28 most critical cases.
One of the most prominent examples is the closure of the Aboyne Bridge over the River Dee, which has been shut to vehicles for the past two years due to structural defects. The closure has effectively split the village in two, forcing residents and businesses to take lengthy diversions that have had a serious impact on their daily routines and operations.
“The direct impact is mostly down to the employees, they inevitably have to go round the diversion,” said Duncan Cassie, site manager at a local sawmill. “We need funding, we need to get the Aboyne Bridge sorted, and reconnect the north side and south side of the river.”
The bridge closure has been particularly challenging for residents like Charlotte Davy, who lives with chronic fatigue syndrome. “It’s just made things harder for me, having to plan out my energy use even more, taking longer to recover after,” she said. “And having the bridge closed, it’s not as easy for friends to get up and support me, now it takes a lot longer.”
The council report states that the widespread deterioration of bridges in Aberdeenshire is the result of long-term underfunding, with the issue persisting for more than 50 years. The Scottish government has allocated £15.7 billion for local authorities in the 2026-27 budget, including £655 million for Aberdeenshire Council, an increase of £40 million or 6.7%. However, local authorities are responsible for managing their own budgets and infrastructure based on local needs and priorities.
As Aberdeenshire residents continue to grapple with the consequences of the bridge closures, the council and the Scottish government face the challenge of addressing the region’s crumbling infrastructure and ensuring the safety and connectivity of local communities.