A road destroyed by extreme flooding in Fife nearly two years ago will not reopen until next year.
Steps to appoint a contractor to repair the C45 through Dura Den are under way, with major engineering work expected to take around six months to complete.
Much of the route through the picturesque hamlet was washed away in a torrential downpour in October 2012, in what is widely regarded as some of the worst flooding ever seen in the region.
Properties throughout the community were flooded and even partially destroyed, causing hundreds of thousands of pounds of damage.
As the painstaking task of returning the community to normal continues, those behind the repair work have said reinstating the only road to Dura Den is still some months away.
Having advertised for companies to come forward and assist in the project, Murray Scott, lead professional for structural services at Fife Council, said: “It has been some time now but this letting is to do the major structural works, such as supporting sections of the road and reinstating some of the walls through Dura Den.
“We can’t say for certain when the road will be open as that is also dependent on work being done by insurers. The contractor will be appointed around October and it is a six-month contract. In terms of the road reopening, around May or June is probably the best guess.”
The heavy rain on October 15 2012 quickly overwhelmed the Ceres Burn, which burst its banks and flooded nearby homes.
The deluge also created a waterfall on the C45, the weight of which forced the asphalt to crumble under the strain.
Mr Scott added that the rebuilding work is an opportunity to upgrade sections of the road, should freak weather ever strike again.
“We want it to look exactly as it was before but we will upgrade the road to make it safer for users.
“It has been quite a challenge. There have been a number of issues but Fife Council has been able to allocate funding to deal with the work in the immediate aftermath.”