Bridge replacement for deadly crossing railway level crossing at Delny, near Invergordon, in Easter Ross is given the go ahead by Highland Council; the Network Rail Scotland proposals were green lit by the council's north planning applications committee
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A DEADLY railway level crossing that has claimed several lives in horror smashes will soon be no more, after councillors backed plans for a replacement bridge.
Delny crossing, near Barbaraville in Easter Ross, has a notorious reputation having been the scene of several fatal collisions and near misses – the most recent of which led to the loss of two teenagers' lives in 2007.
Despite automatic half-barriers being installed 10 years later, the crossing has continued to cause concerns, with risk assessments finding that there was still an "increased likelihood" of a collision between trains and road vehicles.
But the new bridge, which will cross the track to the east of the current site, is expected to change all that once it is completed by Network Rail Scotland this year or next.
And it won unanimous support among councillors on Highland Council's north planning applications committee when the plans went before them to be approved on Tuesday.
The crossing closure will still be subject to the passing of a formal "stopping up" order, before it will finally be consigned to history. But the approval of the new bridge at the site is seen as an important step in the process, and its completion is likely to herald the closure of the crossing itself.
Welcoming the plans, committee chairwoman and Cromarty Firth ward councillor, Maxine Smith, said: "This has been long awaited. There have been several accidents on this road. It's always been dangerous and I dread going down that road to be honest, and I stop when I get to the railway and look both sides because I don't trust it. So I'm really pleased to see this coming and happy to grant it today."
Cllr Smith added that the crossing's closure will also boost calls for a new railway station at Evanton, as trains will be able to travel past Delny at full speed once the risk of a collision with road traffic is removed.
She believes this will shave time off existing rail journeys – time which could then be used to offset the added delay caused by an additional station stop in Evanton, and remove one of the arguments against its reinstatement on the Far North Line.
Tain and Easter Ross councillor Alasdair Rhind echoed Cllr Smith's remarks that the bridge plan had been a "long time coming" and that the community were generally supportive of the move.
"It's a great project for the benefit of the rail users and benefit of the road users as well."
But he added that there was a need in the community for the existing road to stay open during construction and he wanted the message passed on to Network Rail's contractors so that it is not shut while the new bridge is completed.
Cllr Smith agreed.
Caithness and East Wick councillor Raymond Bremner also signalled his support for the bridge, saying that he sympathised with the long campaign to close the level crossing, given similar concerns over several sites in his own ward.
Cromarty Firth councillor Cllr Mike Finlayson, also backing the new bridge, asked if its construction might signal the time to put a speed limit on the road, "because I can see it as a bit of a race potential".
Responding to him, council officer Jane Bridge said the new bridge had been designed with curves on the approach and "restricted visibility" in a deliberate effort to "constrain speeds" on the road, adding that the designers believed the move would result in a "design speed of 30mph".
"So they are confident and have carried out a road safety audit, that it should achieve such speeds along here."
The officer and Cllr Smith added that the council would monitor the route.
"Lets monitor it and if we get some, should I say, foolish drivers, we’ll put in signs," said Cllr Smith.
The application for the new bridge was passed unanimously.
Related news: Delny rail crossing bridge bid looks set for approval
