Commuters will face weeks of detours from Tuesday with the closure of Brechin Bridge in the latest stage of the town’s multi-million-pound flood prevention project.
Official diversions will take traffic via Montrose to get to and from Arbroath for the next seven weeks, with council chiefs warning that there will be an impact on bus services between Brechin and Arbroath, which will also affect those travelling to Stracathro Hospital.
The works are getting under way just a week later than scheduled in the wake of storms which deluged Angus at the end of the year.
Despite the severity of the weather, Brechin escaped serious damage and officials estimated that the works already completed as part of the £16 million project helped save as many as 300 homes from flooding.
The defences being incorporated in the scheme include embankments and flood walls, work on the Denburn culvert and upgrades to surface water drainage systems.
Work on two of the three pumping stations is almost complete, with the bridge station being part of the final phase.
Diversion signs have been put in place and the council has said that although more localised traffic may wish to use alternative routes, those will not be sign-posted.
A spokesman said: “Angus Council and Morrison Construction will strive to minimise disruption during this essential programme of works and, weather permitting, Brechin Bridge is scheduled to reopen on Saturday March 12.
The affected bus services are the No 31 Arbroath to Brechin Stagecoach Strathtay service and Wishart’s 140 and 141 Arbroath Friockheim Brechin Stracathro Hospital.
“Temporary timetables are available from the bus operators, at ACCESS offices and libraries, from Arbroath Bus Station and on the council’s bus timetables page,” the spokesman added.
This phase of the works will see:
Bridge traffic signals upgraded, enabled by the installation of new ducts within the bridge carriageway;
Work to utilities on East Mill Road to connect them to the new pumping station and drainage in River Street;
Construction of a new flood wall next to East Mill Road close to the bridge.
The local authority said it will be doing its best to maintain vehicular access to affected properties and pedestrian access will be maintained at all times, along with access for emergency services.
The spokesman said: “Any residents with queries about the emergency plan to deal with flood events during the construction works can contact Richard Meeson at the River Street site offices on 07921429668.”