Councillors received a full update on the current position and future plans for Kirkcudbright Bridge at a meeting of Economy and Infrastructure Committee on 2 September.
At the meeting of the council's Enabling and Customer Services Committee, councillors also recognised the development of a replacement Kirkcudbright Bridge as a strategic project. Councillors agreed the initial development costs of £100K, funded from the project development funding available within the Capital Fund, to support the initial development of an outline business case in relation to a replacement Kirkcudbright Bridge.
To make information easier to follow, we’ve summarised key points about Kirkcudbright Bridge below.
Is Kirkcudbright Bridge open to vehicles?
Yes. The bridge reopened to cars and light vans (up to 3 tonnes) on 2 July 2025. Traffic is managed using chicanes and temporary signals to ensure compliance with weight and size restrictions.
Is the bridge only open for tourist season?
No. The bridge has reopened under restrictions on a long-term basis. The bridge will remain open until a new bridge has been built to replace the existing one.
What restrictions are in place for vehicles?
Vehicles must not exceed 3 tonnes in weight, 2.3 metres in width, or 5.6 metres in length. These limits help protect the bridge’s structure.
Why were these restrictions introduced?
The bridge is historic and has experienced structural deterioration. Restrictions are necessary to preserve its condition and ensure safety until a long-term solution is in place.
What is being done to enforce the restrictions?
Temporary traffic signals and signage is in place and traffic surveys are being undertaken. An automatic number plate recognition (ANPR) system and CCTV has been installed and is operational. This allows us to identify drivers breaking the weight, width and length restrictions and contact them directly. This evidence is also shared with Police Scotland.
Are there plans for a new bridge?
Yes. Officers are developing specimen designs to help prepare indicative costs and timelines for a replacement bridge. This will take several years and involve feasibility studies, design options, community engagement, and formal approvals.
Has funding been allocated?
An initial budget was approved in April 2025. This includes traffic management, inspections, and early design work.
How are local businesses being supported?
Business Gateway is working with the Kirkcudbright Business Group and offering and support. Events and campaigns have been run to promote local businesses during the bridge closure.
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
- 20mph speed limit
Individual vehicles or a combination of vehicles exceeding 5.6 metres are not permitted on the bridge. Towed caravans are not permitted on the bridge.
Please check your vehicle dimensions in the vehicle’s manual, or VIN plate/manufacturers sticker, before starting your journey.
The chicanes have some flexibility built in to help vehicles pass through, but larger and longer non-compliant vehicles should not attempt to cross.
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
Vehicles are not allowed to exit from Beaconsfield Place onto Bridge Street. However, you can turn left from Bridge Street into Beaconsfield Place.
The bus stop on Beaconsfield Place has been closed. Residents should use the bus stop on St Mary's Street.
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 restrictions.
Signs are in place to note that local businesses remain open.
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 2 September. Councillors agreed to:
- note the positive steps taken to realise the reopening of the Bridge to cars and small vans to a maximum of 3 Tonne
- note the update on the position on-site following the re-opening of the bridge
- note the proposed next steps in the long term 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 that if Kirkcudbright bridge is agreed as a Strategic Project by Dumfries and Galloway Council in October 2025 that future updates regarding Kirkcudbright Bridge will be included as part of future Capital Investment reports presented to Economy and Infrastructure Committee
- agree that a comprehensive review is carried out to assess the level of economic impact the closure and subsequent partial reopening of the bridge has had on businesses based in Kirkcudbright and that a report is brought back at a future date to the committee on the result of the review and any recommendations arising
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.
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