Vehicle access across Lea Bridge in Forres will be permanently closed after engineers concluded the historic structure can no longer safely carry traffic.
Moray Council confirmed the decision following a recent structural assessment of the bridge, which sits over the Mosset Burn between Gordon Street and Invererne Road.
The bridge, which dates back to 1889, failed the structural assessment and will no longer be permitted to carry vehicles.
Pedestrians and cyclists will still be able to use the bridge, with permanent bollards being installed to prevent vehicles from accessing it.
The decision follows detailed engineering reviews and traffic monitoring carried out over several days on the bridge and surrounding streets.
Those studies found nearby roads can accommodate the additional traffic once the bridge closes to vehicles.
Chair of Moray Council’s Economic Development and Infrastructure Services Committee Councillor Marc Macrae said:
“Following a thorough structural assessment, we have determined that Lea Bridge can no longer carry vehicular traffic safely, and these measures, while unfortunate, are necessary to protect all users.”
The closure is unrelated to the recent collapse of the Garmouth Viaduct and council officials stressed the two situations are not connected.
Engineers have been monitoring Lea Bridge for several years and had already identified corrosion and age related deterioration within the structure.
The latest structural assessment found that one element of the bridge had marginally failed, although the council said this does not present a risk of collapse.
Because of this, the bridge will remain open to people walking and cycling.
Moray Council confirmed the structure will continue to be inspected every three months to ensure it remains safe for pedestrian and cycle access.
Nearby infrastructure is also affected by the latest assessment.
The upstream Mosset Burn footbridge will close after engineers identified corrosion in its deck.
However the southern Mosset Burn footbridge will remain open and will also be inspected every three months as part of ongoing safety monitoring.
Officials said repairing the bridge is not considered viable due to the age of the structure and corrosion within key structural beams.
The bridge has reached the end of its operational life and engineers concluded a simple repair would not be possible.
Replacing the bridge has been considered but there is currently no funding in place for a new structure.
Lea Bridge currently sits 109th on Moray Council’s bridge prioritisation list, meaning a replacement could still be several years away.
The council said prioritisation decisions are based on factors including structural condition, the importance of the route and the availability of alternative roads.
Lea Bridge already had a three tonne weight restriction before the closure decision, which meant emergency vehicles such as ambulances and fire engines were unable to use it.
Emergency services will be formally notified of the restriction through the road closure process.
