Two Brechin roads will close for up to 15 months as the main work gets under way in the town’s flood prevention scheme.
The multi-million-pound project will see the closure of River Street and Witchden Road from today.
The scheme, described as the single largest civil engineering project in Angus, will see direct river defences constructed along the north bank of the South Esk.
The walls, of a natural stone finish, will measure around 1.4 metres from the raised footway on the river side and around 1.6m from the caravan park.
The scheme will also see embankments raised and upgrades to the existing surface water and roads drainage in place, with three new submerged pump stations installed at the Inch, Brechin Bridge and East Mill. Residents on River Street had to be evacuated in December 2012 and the road flooded again at the end of last year.
Local councillor Jim Houston said: “It’s good to see the main work getting under way. It’s something the people of Brechin have been looking forward to for a number of years.
“We will have a bit of disruption but at the end of the day we will have a problem solved, which is what it’s all about.”
The construction part of the scheme is with Morrison Construction for £5.8 million. The overall scheme is estimated to cost £16m, but the benefits have been valued at £27m.
It is designed to provide a ‘1 in 200 year’ level of protection to the town.
The monument on River Street will be temporarily removed while the works take place and reinstated after completion.
River Street will also see the carriageway resurfaced and new benches installed.
Residents on Middleton Park, Nursery Lane, Nursery Park and some residents on River Street are advised that they will have to use the new Nursery Lane link road from Montrose Street to access their properties.
A council statement said: “For more information on the flood alleviation works being carried out, visit our Brechin Flood Prevention Scheme webpages.
“You can also email brechinflood@angus.gov.uk or contact ACCESSLine on 08452 777 778 with any inquiries.”
“We apologise for any inconvenience caused, and thank residents for their patience while work on the scheme continues.”