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Wednesday 28 Oct 2026

Network Rail to renew railway bridge over Dundee to Aberdeen line

Region & Route:

Scotland’s Railway: Scotland

A £3m project to replace an ageing railway bridge in Laurencekirk is due to begin next week. 

The bridge carries Blackiemuir Avenue over the Dundee to Aberdeen line and will be replaced with a new structure, helping to keep the busy route safe and reliable for years to come. 

Work is due to start on Monday 2 November and will continue until the end of March 2027. It's part of Network Rail’s ongoing commitment to maintaining and renewing structures across Scotland’s Railway. 

Preparations to remove the bridge will get underway between now and January, when the railway will then close between Montrose and Laurencekirk for two weekends. The existing bridge will be demolished from 16 to 18 January, and the new structure installed the following weekend, 23 to 25 January. 

Network Rail has been working with the local community to minimise disruption and help people move around safely while the work is carried out. Blackiemuir Avenue will be closed to vehicles and pedestrians from 14 November until 23 February, with signed diversion routes in place. 

Following feedback at a community drop-in event in August, the signed pedestrian diversion has been designed to avoid the Back Settlement level crossing. As an additional precaution, a crossing steward will also be in place during peak periods, Monday to Friday. 

Allison Flanagan, project manager at Network Rail Scotland, said: "Bridges are an essential part of the railway and, like any structure, they need to be looked after and renewed over time. Our job is to plan it carefully, get the work done safely and keep the impact on people as manageable as we can. 

“We’ve had really useful conversations with people in Laurencekirk and we’re grateful for the way the community has engaged with us. We’ve taken that feedback onboard in our planning and we’d like to thank everyone for their patience and understanding while we carry out this important work.” 

The Blackiemuir Avenue bridge is the first of two railway bridges in Laurencekirk being renewed, with work on the Station Road bridge expected to follow from November 2027. Carrying out the projects separately will help reduce disruption.