A landmark bridge over the Dighty Burn looks set to have a second phase of restoration works costing almost £700,000.
Finlathen Viaduct, which was damaged by water saturation in 2019, is currently being restored south of the burn, with the new works planned to complete the reinstatement to the north.
Steven Rome, depute convener of Dundee City Council’s city development committee said: “We know that the bridge is a much-loved landmark in that part of the city and after some careful consideration when it was damaged a couple of years ago it was decided to reinstate it.
“That work is due to finish soon and in order to ensure the bridge’s structure is sound along its entire length, a tender to carry out a second phase of work on it to the north of the Dighty was put out.”
Councillors will be asked to approve a bid by local contractors Dundee Plant Co Ltd, which if successful would see work completed by the autumn. The total cost is expected to be £692,804.
Historical records reveal that the 152m structure was put up by the Dundee Water Company between 1846 and 1847 to carry the first water pipeline from Monikie over the Dighty valley to Dundee.
The deck of the striking 13-arch structure was originally covered with turf to keep the water pipes cool in summer and above freezing in winter. By the middle of the 20th century it had been opened as a footpath and surfaced with tarmac, following Fintry residents’ requests.
The city development committee meets on Monday (March 8).
Dundee City Council
Dundee draws skilled workers from a 60-minute catchment population of 640,000 and has a local population of over 140,000. The availability of a large pool of highly skilled labour is a key feature in the Dundee economy. Flexibility in the labour force is currently more prevalent in Dundee than in Scotland as a whole. All forms of labour market flexibility - part-time, temporary employment, self-employment and shift work - are widely operational within the city. Labour force stability in the city is excellent, enabling companies to plan with confidence. Labour turnover levels are less than 5% and absenteeism averages 2%.
