The 350ft Spey Viaduct near Garmouth, which forms part of the Speyside Way and National Cycle Network, collapsed this weekend after fast-moving water eroded its foundations.
Moray Council said the collapse appears to be caused by scour, a process in which river flow removes material from around bridge piers, after the river’s flow path changed and increased pressure on the structure.
The council confirmed there was no evidence of scour during the bridge’s last specialist inspection in 2023.
The 19th-century bridge has been popular with walkers and cyclists after the railway line closed in the 1960s. Cyclists will now face a nine-mile detour on local roads.
Spey viaduct collapse (credit: Moray Council)
Councillor Macrae, who represents the local Fochabers and Lhanbryde ward, told BBC Scotland News that he felt a “state of shock” at what had happened.
The councillor, who is also chairman of Moray Council’s economic development and infrastructure services committee, said, “I think the important thing at the minute is to assess the damage that has been done, we need a plan for how we remove the two deck sections that are now in the river,” he said.
“And then look to investigate the rest of the structure of the bridge.
“I wouldn’t even like to guesstimate a figure to repair the bridge, let alone replace the bridge if necessary. In the current financial climate, it’s going to be nigh on impossible,” he said.
“I would hope national government, if anything, would step in here because it’s a project way beyond the means of the local authority and the constrained budgets we have at this time.”
Timmy Mallett, TV presenter and artist, said on Facebook, “I loved cycling across this fabulous historic iron girder bridge over the River Spey in Moray on my circumnavigation of Britain. It’s one of the highlights of the 5000-mile ride.
“Please restore this national treasure!”
Roddy Robertson, the chair of Garmouth and Kingston Community Association, said that there had been concerns over the state of the bridge for decades.
He said, “One of our fears was that it would get to this position that we are in today, that the bridge would become unsafe, it would be too expensive to fix, and we would lose that bridge.
“So it’s extremely frustrating to see the bridge lost when it possibly could have been saved. Who knows, we won’t know that, that’s hindsight now, I suppose.
“The community is absolutely devastated.”
> Scottish Government urged to spend more on public transport and less on cycling
Brian Hay said, “That bridge has been a shortcut between two communities for decades. Even before the rail line was closed.
“I can remember cycling over it as a young boy pre closure from Garmouth to Speybay and on to Portgordon. Just had to know when trains were due and wait until they passed before crossing the bridge. Saved several miles cycling.”
Spey Viaduct collapse (credit: The Wobbly Cyclist / Facebook)
Moray Council, which has maintained the bridge since 1968, said on Monday evening: “Engineers have now assessed the Garmouth Viaduct and on initial inspection can confirm the collapse appears to be due to scour.
“It appears that over the last year, the river flow path has changed, which may have contributed to a change in impact on the piers.
“We’re in the process of instructing a specialist engineer to undertake a more detailed inspection and assessment, and hope that this can be progressed before Christmas or early in the new year.”
Options will be presented to councillors “as soon as practicably possible”.
The statement added: “We’re well aware of the strength of feeling in the local community, and further afield, for this bridge and how well used it is by walkers and cyclists.”