Bodycams deployed for safety at Kirkcudbright Bridge as road workers get verbally abused by motorists
Police are aware of the reported incidents.
Idiotic drivers are “blatantly” ignoring safety restrictions and driving heavy vehicles over weak Kirkcudbright Bridge, council chiefs have warned.
A small minority of motorists are charging ahead and crossing the bridge, despite expert engineers advising of a three-tonne weight limit due to serious structural issues.
And roads workers who have been trying to uphold the safety measures while manning temporary traffic lights have been subjected to foul-mouthed rants from drivers.
This has resulted in them wearing bodycams for protection – and to catch motorists breaking the rules.
A Kirkcudbright Bride update report will be tabled at the council’s economy and infrastructure committee next Tuesday. It states: “Regrettably and unacceptably, colleagues staffing the temporary traffic signals have been subjected to verbal abuse.
“Bodycams have been deployed for operational staff working on the bridge and Police Scotland have been notified of incidents of verbal abuse.
“Furthermore, the council has been made aware of blatant non-compliance with the prohibitions by a small minority of drivers and we are working closely with Police Scotland to follow up on any contraventions where evidence is available.
“The council is also currently exploring options for the provision of CCTV and ANPR (automatic number plate recognition) equipment and would hope to introduce these in the near future to assist further in dealing with any non-compliance.
“Traffic counters have also installed at the bridge primarily to register the class of vehicle trying to cross as well as recording the speed of vehicles.”
The council report explains that new signage was installed advising drivers of the restrictions in place, and this was repeated on the A755 Merse approach to forewarn drivers well in advance and permit them to take evasive action.
Temporary signage was also introduced to advise drivers of the alternative route to Kirkcudbright town via the A75 trunk road, avoiding the weak bridge.
The report states: “As a result of these new traffic management measures, a temporary no-entry restriction from Beaconsfield Place on to Bridge Street was brought into force and the bus stop on Beaconsfield Place adjacent the harbour relocated temporarily to the opposite side of the road.
“As planned, the temporary traffic lights were staffed for the first two weeks (8am to 4pm) post reopening to assist drivers with the new road layout and advise those drivers where their vehicle was believed to be non-compliant.
“However, given the number of larger vehicles, such as cars towing caravans, continuing to approach the bridge from the Merse side in particular, the decision has been taken to run with a staffed set up for an extended period of time, most likely up to the end of August 2025.”
Council officers are still firming up costs for a new bridge and timescales associated with this. However, they have admitted it will take years before a replacement bridge can be built.