More than £8 million will be spent on maintaining Moray's 1,556 km, £1.6 billion roads portfolio, as Moray Council sets out how it will invest millions of pounds on improving infrastructure in the region over the next 12 months.

This will involve road resurfacing and reconstruction, drainage repair, footway works and traffic signs. It also includes £1.4 million for winter gritting and emergencies, as well as £1.7 million for street lighting, including the replacement of ageing lighting columns.

Replacing existing street lights with LED lanterns is currently ahead of schedule, due for completion this year and forecast to come in at approximately £1 million under the £5.5 million estimated original cost. Once the project is complete, the LED lights will deliver annual savings of £350,000 in energy costs.

Meanwhile, £2.7 million has been allocated to maintain and refurbish bridges in Moray, with £1.9 million of this being invested into phase one of repairing the Craigellachie Bridge to address the damaged deck joints, and repairing the road and footway surfaces. Glenlivet Bridge will have its surface replaced; Arthur's Bridge will be narrowed to a single-lane road with traffic lights installed and a weight limit imposed. Vehicle restraint barriers works will also take place on Salterhill Bridge and the Bridge of Kings Ford.

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General repairs, inspections and vegetation clearance will be undertaken at various bridges, with concrete repairs, waterproofing and structural assessments also scheduled.

Skid resistance measures and road safety initiatives have been costed at £136,000, while £61,000 is available for disabled adaptations including dropped kerbs and disabled parking spaces. Grant funding of £40,000 has been secured from Transport Scotland to spend on a safer route to school project in Dufftown.

Flood risk management works will cost £282,000, which includes operation and maintenance of existing flood alleviation schemes, as well as clearance and repair works.

Chair of Moray Council's Economic Development & Infrastructure Services Committee, Cllr Graham Leadbitter, said that despite the council's need to reduce its overall spending, investing in infrastructure is a sensible decision as part of long-term financial planning.

He concluded: "Maintaining critical infrastructure across Moray is one of the bread-and-butter jobs of this council.

"Routes such as the A941 through Speyside are vital to our local economy, and these planned works will keep our communities connected."