Kirkcudbright Chamber of Commerce hosted an emergency meeting on Monday, 31st March to discuss the bridge situation. The meeting was hosted by Chris Walker and was attended from D&G Council, by Ian Blake, Manager of Economy and Infrastructure and John Denerley, one of our Stewartry Councillors. Our local MSPs were unable to attend but there was a statement sent from from Emma Harper that she was raising the matter with the Scottish Parliament and asking for funding for repair or replacement of the bridge. The meeting was well attended by representatives of local businesses and organisations.
Alan Johnson, the former engineering manager for D&G Council gave an update on the history of the bridge maintenance with the imposition of a 17 ton weight limit in the 1990s and more recently a 7.5 ton limit in January 2025 after a survey in late 2024. He said that there had been a project to scope out the design for a new bridge before he retired from the Council 8 years ago but it does not seem to have been progressed.
Ian Blake confirmed that the most recent survey results reported on 21st March from structural engineers Mott MacDonald found that the bridge did not meet the criteria for the minimum loading of 3 tonnes and should immediately be closed to traffic and could even be at risk from large numbers of pedestrians on the bridge simultaneously. The main issue is the deterioration of the steel reinforcing rods within the concrete of the bridge structure. The full report from Mott MacDonald is expected to be received this week and will be published by D&G Council.
Concerns were expressed at the frequent incidences of heavy traffic ignoring the previous weight limits. D&G Council had been monitoring the situation but stated that they could not enforce the limits as that was a police function. It seems that there is a lack of coordination between the Council and the Police that has allowed this situation to continue.
There was a lot of discussion about ideas to keep Kirkcudbright businesses functioning while the bridge is out of action as well as concerns for the significant number of Kirkcudbright (and Borgue) residents that live on the far side of the bridge. It was noted that Kirkcudbright has been quieter than usual since the bridge closed and concerns about the impact on local businesses. D&G Council are already talking to the owner of the old creamery site to look at providing more parking. It was suggested that there could be a shop set up there too to help provide supplies to people in the Merse and The Stell areas. Subject to the full results of the structural survey, it may be possible to re-open the bridge to car traffic on a limited basis but the details of this are still to be determined.
More information will be posted as we receive it and you can check the latest update from D&G Council at: https://www.dumfriesandgalloway.gov.uk/news/2025/kirkcudbright-bridge-closure-updates