Work to resume on upgrading Wick riverside footbridges
The volunteers of Wick Paths Group will be returning to work on upgrading the Coghill footbridges at the town's riverside this weekend.
Work will be taking place on Saturday and Sunday and the main bridge will be closed to the public on both days to ensure safety.
The group has already upgraded the smaller of the two bridges. This involved replacing rotten timbers and railing supports and laying a non-slip fibreglass walking surface, while the railings were also painted.
Paths group secretary John Bogle said there had been a positive reaction to the work so far.
"There has been a lot of favourable comment on the upgraded smaller bridge, which is now much safer for pedestrians," he said.
"The bigger bridge is on a different scale of magnitude, and although a start has been made on replacing timbers it is not guaranteed that the decking work will be completed this weekend.
"It has been decided that, for health and safety reasons, painting of the railings will be put off until a later date."
To coincide with the bridge work there will be a litter-pick on both sides of the river. Highland Council will provide refuse sacks and will remove them when they are full.
Members of the public are invited to join with the paths group, the Wick Riverside Volunteers and members of Pulteneytown Parish Church to make it community event. "Anyone willing to help should meet at 10am on Saturday, either at the riverside play park or beside the boating shed – but remember the bridge will be closed," Mr Bogle said.
Volunteers are asked to provide their own gloves and observe two-metre social distancing while litter-picking.
After the litter-pick, helpers will be invited to join the Wick Riverside Volunteers with a tidy-up of the rose gardens – people are asked to bring their own weeding tools.
A special plea has been issued for someone with petrol-powered hedge trimmers to trim the large overgrown bushes in the area.
Before the first weekend of improvements at the start of this month, Mr Bogle had pointed out that it was an unprecedented challenge for the team.
"This is a major project for a voluntary group and the biggest one that the paths group has undertaken," he said. "However, we have managed to assemble a small group of skilled individuals prepared to give up their spare time to make this well-used Wick icon much safer."
- Wick riverside's Coghill bridges getting a new lease of life
- Wick riverside footbridges to receive long overdue facelift