Temporary traffic lights that have caused a “year from hell” for Keith residents are to be removed from Union Bridge in a matter of days, roads bosses have confirmed.
The announcement from Amey comes more than a year since the lights were first put in place on the A96 bridge for work to start in July 2024.
But in a response to Buckie-based MSP Tim Eagle, Amey said the work still won’t have finished by the time the road reopens as normal.
Despite the lights being removed, workers will remain on site into September to construct a new masonry wall facade before the project is finally completed.
Frustrated drivers, businesses and residents have faced lengthy delays since the temporary traffic lights were put in place when a retaining wall fell into the River Isla.
Amey began repairs at the start of March, with the original aim of having them finished by mid-May, but the works have been delayed on multiple occasions.
Buckie-based Scottish Conservative MSP Tim Eagle said: “The removal of the temporary traffic lights from Union Bridge finally marks the end to a year of hell for Keith and its residents.
“But the consequences of this have left a devastating toll on businesses who have suffered a significant decline in trade and should be compensated by the Scottish Government for this.
“The constant delays and missed deadlines to the repairs have caused nothing but misery to people living in Keith.
“It’s absolutely appalling that this saga has been left to drag on for so long on the main thoroughfare through Keith, connecting Aberdeen to Inverness.
“Yet throughout this, the Scottish Government, which is responsible for the A96 and the bridge, has washed its hands of any responsibility, and turned a blind eye to the negative impact this has caused Keith.
“Once the remaining work to the masonry wall is completed, I will be asking Transport Scotland for full costings of this botched project which we know has run hundreds of thousands of pounds over budget.”
A spokesman for Amey said: “I can confirm we are still on schedule to remove the temporary traffic lights by the end of August.
“As indicated previously, work will still be required on site to construct the new masonry wall facade before de-mobilising from site but the main trunk road will remain open for traffic as normal.”
