Vehicle access to close on Lea Bridge, Forres
Vehicle access to Lea Bridge between Gordon Street and Invererne Road, in Forres will be permanently closed following the results of a recent structural assessment.
The historic bridge, which dates back to 1889, has not passed its structural assessment so can no longer safely carry vehicular traffic. The bridge will remain open for pedestrians and cyclists, with permanent bollards installed to prevent vehicle access.
The upstream footbridge over the Mosset Burn will also close due to corrosion, while the southern footbridge will remain open and be monitored every three months.
The decision follows detailed engineering reviews and traffic monitoring carried out over several days on the bridge and surrounding roads. The studies found nearby routes can accommodate the additional traffic once the bridge is closed.
Chair of Moray Council’s Economic Development and Infrastructure Services Committee, 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.”
Lea Bridge closure – FAQ
Why is the bridge being closed to vehicles?
The closure is needed because the bridge didn’t pass its structural assessment and is no longer able to carry vehicular traffic. The bridge will remain open to pedestrians and cyclists.
How will the closure be enforced?
Permanent bollards are being put in place to prevent vehicle access.
Is the closure to vehicles permanent?
Yes.
When will the bridge close?
At the moment, there is not a specific closure date as we’re waiting for signage and bollards to be delivered, however, it is likely to close by Friday 3 April.
Is this anything to do with the Garmouth Viaduct collapse?
No. The bridge has been monitored closely for several years and engineers have long been aware that, because of its age, corrosion and recent structural assessment results, it was approaching the point where closure to vehicles would be necessary.
Is the bridge at risk of collapsing?
No.
How do you know it’s safe for pedestrian and cyclist use?
The structural assessment showed only a marginal failure in one element, and this would not lead to a collapse. The bridge is also being inspected every three months, and this regular monitoring will continue to make sure it remains safe for people walking and cycling.
When was the decision made to close these bridges?
The recommendation to close the bridge was made at the end of last year, after different possible solutions were reviewed, and traffic count reports were looked at.
Why can’t the bridge be fixed?
Because of the bridge’s age, corrosion and the results of the structural assessment, a simple repair is not possible. The structure was built in 1889 and is suffering from section loss in the beams which have reached end-of-life.
Will the bridge be replaced?
A full replacement is one of the options that engineers have looked at, but there is currently no funding in place to build a new bridge. Lea Bridge sits 109th on the council’s bridge prioritisation list which means it’s unlikely to be replaced for several years. At this stage, there is no confirmed timescale for when a replacement might happen.
How and why are bridges prioritised?
Like other local authorities across Scotland, Moray Council continues to face sustained financial challenges. For that reason, we use a prioritisation system to decide which bridges receive funding first. Each structure is scored based on things like its condition, how important it is for traffic, and whether there are alternative routes.
Have you checked what impact this will have on traffic?
Yes. Detailed traffic counts were carried out on Lea Bridge and the surrounding streets over several days, including school‑term periods and busy times. These showed that while more vehicles will use the nearby routes once the bridge closes, the projected increases remain within what those roads can safely handle.
Why weren’t one-way systems or traffic lights chosen?
These would remove pedestrian access, cause safety issues and be costly for a temporary solution.
What’s happening with the nearby footbridges?
The footbridge upstream of Lea Bridge will need to close because engineers have identified corrosion in its deck. The south footbridge, however, will remain open and will be closely monitored.
How often will the bridge be monitored?
It is visually inspected every three months.
Have you considered how this will affect emergency services?
Lea bridge already had a 3 tonne weight limit on it making it unsuitable for ambulances and fire engines. All emergency services will be informed via the road restriction process.
Is funding being sought to replace the bridge?
Currently there are no available funding options to replace the bridge at this time.
Will there be public consultation on long-term plans?
Currently there are no planned public consultations.
Will pedestrian access remain open indefinitely?
The bridge will continue to deteriorate and will be actively monitored until it is no longer deemed safe for use by pedestrians and cyclists.
Is there any risk of the second Mosset Burn footbridge closing?
The second Mosset Burn footbridge to the south is also at risk of closure in the future due to corrosion in the deck. Monitoring will continue at this bridge every 3-months.