Aberdeen Council has said asphalt is to be 'dressed up' as Caithness slabs as part of a new operation to improve the south pedestrian area on Union Bridge.

It added that the existing concrete slabs are thin and frequently damaged, while the Caithness slabs, which are used elsewhere on Union Street, are too think to use on Union Bridge due to the limited depth available between the bridge deck and footpath.

In order to solve the problem, the local authority has said it will trial the use of a new operation called StreetPrint. This will mimic the visual effect of the Caithness slabs in asphalt.

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The asphalt surface on the south pavement of Union Bridge is the first phase of the replacement operation, and will be followed by an imprinting process, which involves pressing a metal template into the asphalt pavement to replicate, in relief, the grout depressions common to the Caithness slabs. The imprinted asphalt pavement surface will then be painted in a colour similar to the existing Caithness slabs.

The coating can only be applied when the air temperature is 10°C and rising and conditions are dry.

The south pavement of the bridge will be closed during the imprinting and painting works.

Dates for these phases of the project will be released in due course.

(JP/MH)