Kirkcudbright Bridge is open to cars, light vans and motorcycles under single-lane traffic management.
The bridge remains open for pedestrians and cyclists.
The decision to reopen the bridge on 2 July 2025 follows rigorous technical assessment and analysis by the council’s engineering team and its engineering consultant, Mott MacDonald. As part of the council’s statutory responsibilities, public notice information on the current arrangements for Kirkcudbright Bridge have been put up around the bridge and can be read on Tell Me Scotland.
As well as reopening Kirkcudbright Bridge to cars and light vans, council officers are working on options for a new bridge as a long-term solution.
We will continue to provide public updates through the Latest News section of our website.
Effects on council services
Kirkcudbright Bridge access
The following limits apply to vehicles:
- weight limit: 3 tonnes
- width limit: 2.3 metres
- length limit: 5.6 metres
- no towing is allowed
Please check your vehicle dimensions in the vehicle’s manual, or VIN plate/manufacturers sticker, before starting your journey.
Traffic controls include a single-lane chicane system with width restrictions to manage traffic flow and reduce weight on the bridge.
The barriers have some flexibility to help vehicles pass through, but larger and longer vehicles should not attempt to cross.
A new lowered speed limit of 20mph will also help to control traffic speeds and reduce the impact on the bridge.
New kerbing, bollards and large solid planter boxes will form the chicane gateways and prevent drivers of vehicles over three tonnes, longer than 5.6 meters, or wider than 2.3 meters from attempting to cross. Temporary traffic lights will manage the one-way flow of vehicles.
In addition to the single-lane system for vehicles, space will be allocated for cyclists next to the existing footway across the bridge. This will create a safer crossing experience for pedestrians and cyclists while encouraging active travel.
One-way system
As part of initial reopening vehicles will not be allowed to exit from Beaconsfield Place onto Bridge Street. However, you can turn left from Bridge Street into Beaconsfield Place.
The bus stop will be temporarily moved to the opposite side of the road.
Looking ahead, a hard-wired traffic light system is planned, that will include a three-way setup. This will allow right turns from Beaconsfield Place onto Bridge Street in the future.
Alternative Route Avoiding Weak Bridge
A signed alternative route avoiding the weak bridge is in place for vehicles that do not comply with the new restrictions.
Our roads service and engineering team have undertaken a review of the alternative route signage. Some signs have been amended at the west of the A755/A75 to clarify the access arrangements.
Signs are in place to note that local businesses remain open.
Enhanced signage remains on parts of the alternative route to help explain to drivers where the road closure is in relation to Borgue.
Our roads service operatives continue to monitor all routes in and out of Kirkcudbright outwith the signed alternative route, to ensure the roads network is operating as expected.
Public transport
The Service 517 bus will continue to operate shuttle journeys to and from the Merse. Those travelling between the Merse and Kirkcudbright will not be charged.
Service 517 revised timetable:
| Kirkcudbright Harbour Square | 0915 | 1015 | 1145 | 1625 | 1710 |
| Merse Road | … | 1035 | … | … | 1730 |
| Brighouse Bay (via The Stell/Dhoon) | … | 1057 | … | … | … |
| Borgue | … | 1107 | … | … | 1740 |
| Merse Road | 0935 | … | 1205 | 1635 | … |
| Kirkcudbright Harbour Square | 0957 | 1125 | 1227 | 1657 | 1805 |
The Service 431 is also operating a revised timetable due to the weak bridge.
School bus
The school bus routes have been changed to ensure pupils are able to get to and from Kirkcudbright Primary and Kirkcudbright Academy.
Emergency services
We will continue to work closely with Scottish Fire and Rescue Service, Police Scotland, the Scottish Ambulance Service, Maritime and Coastguard Agency and the RNLI throughout the closure in an effort to minimise impact on emergency services.
Business support
Local business advisers from the council's Business Gateway team have visited businesses in Kirkcudbright to raise awareness of the services and support on offer.
Businesses can contact 01387 808738, email [email protected] or visit www.bgatewaydumgal.com or www.bgateway.com.
A practical session to help businesses stay visible and connected during the disruption caused by the bridge closure took place on Wednesday 30 April at Kirkcudbright Galleries. A series of videos have been produced and shared on social media to promote businesses. Visit the Business Gateway website for more information.
Events
If you have any events planned for the coming months that would normally use the bridge, please let us know as early as possible. Find the best way to contact us here: Contact us - Dumfries and Galloway Council.
Bin collections
There will be no impact on weekly bin collections in this area.
Background
Kirkcudbright Bridge is located on the A755 and provides access to and from Kirkcudbright heading towards Gatehouse of Fleet, including the Merse.
Kirkcudbright Bridge is a century-old structure that has been weight restricted since the 1970s.
Ongoing deterioration means that its strength has and will continue to reduce with age, and over the last few decades action has been taken to manage this.
The introduction of a 17-tonne weight restriction (empty vehicles excepted) took place in 1993, following a structural load carrying assessment in 1992.
At this point Wig Wag flashing beacons were installed, which were designed to prevent two large vehicles in opposing lanes from meeting on the bridge at the same time.
The council’s consultant structural engineer, Mott MacDonald, was appointed to undertake a principal inspection and assessment of the bridge in 2024.
This included work in October 2024 to survey, inspect and take samples for testing from the bridge. The bridge was closed to vehicles and pedestrians for 4 days.
From October 2024 the council carried out site observations to determine the effectiveness of the weight restriction signage and Wig Wag system. It was found that many vehicles using the bridge weighed significantly more than the 17-tonne weight limit.
As a result, the council moved to introduce a 7.5-tonne weight restriction in January 2025 to protect the structural integrity of the bridge and safeguard bridge users.
This 7.5-tonne restriction was temporary, pending the outcome of Mott MacDonald’s further assessment.
Since the introduction of the 7.5-tonne temporary weight restriction in January 2025 the council continued to monitor traffic. Despite early efforts to protect the structure and limit weight on the crossing, monitoring showed that heavy vehicles with weight well in excess of the safe limit continued to use the bridge.
Mott MacDonald's initial findings of assessment, which the council received on Friday 21 March, highlighted significant concerns over the structural integrity of the bridge.
The main findings were:
"Overall, we find that the bridge does not pass assessment for the currently permitted level of traffic loading, 7.5 tonnes."
"We find that the bridge does not pass assessment for 3 tonnes loading, which is the minimum traffic loading category available in compliance with Design Manual for Roads and Bridges standards."
The full structure was assessed and the critical elements of concern were the bowstrings (main beams that run end-to-end from the feet of the arch, like the string of a bow and arrow) and the stringers (very small beams hidden beneath the road surface, running parallel with the bowstrings – supporting the deck that cars drive on).
On receipt of the findings, we closed the bridge to all vehicles. As a result of temporary barriers being removed twice on Friday evening (21 March), these were replaced with concrete barriers on the morning of Saturday 22 March in the interests of public safety.
Drop-in events were held in Kirkcudbright on Wednesday 21 and Tuesday 27 May and were attended by members of the community. This gave an opportunity to speak to council officers and learn more about the short- and long-term options for Kirkcudbright Bridge. Members of the community were able to learn more about the background of the bridge and the work that has been undertaken so far and will continue through the medium- and long-term.
Read the display boards from the drop-in
Next steps
A report was presented to councillors at the meeting of the council’s Economy and Infrastructure Committee on 3 June, outlining the findings and outcomes of the full assessment report, in addition to the range of options being implemented. Councillors agreed to:
- note the positive steps being taken to reopen Kirkcudbright Bridge to cars and small vans to a maximum of 3 tonnes
- note the proposed next steps in relation to the long-term project for Kirkcudbright Bridge
- agree that work should continue to progress to seek indicative costs and timescales for a new bridge within the current approved Public Realm Structures Capital Programme 2025/26
- agree to provide an update as part of the Capital Investment report due to be presented to Full Council in October 2025 regarding indicative costs associated with building a new bridge in Kirkcudbright
View the full committee report here.
It is too early to say exactly how long it could be before a new bridge is designed and built. Comparisons with other bridges have shown potentially 6 to 7 years. No design for a new bridge has been agreed. Timescales and indicative costs will be reported to councillors.
An update report on Kirkcudbright Bridge has been added to our Economy and Infrastructure Committee as a standing agenda item from June 2025.
Funding
The Kirkcudbright Bridge project has been confirmed within the council's capital investment programme for financial year 2025/26.
This was outlined in the capital investment report that was presented to councillors at the council's Economy and Infrastructure Committee on 15 April 2025. At the meeting, councillors reaffirmed the council's commitment to Kirkcudbright Bridge and recognised it as a strategic priority for the council.
The report was approved by councillors, who agreed to a budget for expenditure for Kirkcudbright Bridge for 2025/26 that includes:
- the ongoing road closure
- the current refinement analysis work
- the independent checks
- any essential repairs where feasible as recommended from Mott MacDonald's assessment
- development of forward management plans for the bridge
- initial review of work done to date on a potential replacement for the bridge