THE Scottish Government has announced that it is to provide £113,000 in funding towards the restoration of the collapsed Spey Viaduct in Moray.
Built between 1883-86, the historic crossing collapsed into the River Spey in December 2025. Initial inspections concluded that it was likely caused by scour, with the bridge remaining closed.
Scottish Government transport secretary, Fiona Hyslop, has now announced that £113,000 from the active travel and infrastructure fund will go towards measures to mitigate the impact of the collapse.
Speaking in parliament, she said the Spey Viaduct played a ‘greater role’ to those in Moray than ‘just a river crossing’ – adding that it had cultural and historic significance and enabled journeys and recreational activities.
She continued, “In the days following the incident, the priority lay in making the area safe and investigating the cause of the collapse. The focus now has shifted to reopening the National Cycle Network route, the Moray Coastal Path, and linkage points with the Speyside Way – using an alternative crossing of the river and safe paths through the Gordon Castle area, the new route having been confirmed and fresh signage to be put in place.
“For a long-term solution, including consideration of repair or replacement, Moray Council have developed a plan with four key assessment steps that will provide clarity on the impact the collapse has had on the riverbed and land surrounding the site. Significant funding is required to take us through these steps and Moray Council are exploring options available.
“I am pleased to confirm that the Scottish Government will provide £113,000 from the active travel infrastructure fund, which will allow additional engineering assessments, planning activities, and alternative route implementation works to be completed between now and the end of the 2025-26 financial year.”
