Local officials, including MSPs and Moray Council, expressed heartbreak and are calling for answers on maintenance history, future plans, and potential replacement funding.

The Garmouth Viaduct on the NCN1 route has been closed after a partial collapse, with engineers set to assess the structure and the public urged to avoid the cordon and not climb on the bridge.

The viaduct, a popular walking route for locals, cyclists, and tourists, is the 1880s iron girder bowstring bridge known as the Garmouth Viaduct.

Built in the 1880s at a cost of about £40,000, the 368-foot-long, 40-foot-high bowstring bridge crosses the River Spey and has long served as part of the NCN1 network.

Historical context notes construction began in 1883 and completed in 1885, with its single bowstring design and past concerns about flood damage affecting its integrity.

Meteorologists warn of heavy rainfall across Scotland, with amber warning areas potentially receiving 200mm (eight inches) or more, raising flood concerns in the days ahead.

Images depict a leaning supporting pier and twisted metal in the river, underscoring visible structural failure.

Residents and visitors took to social media to share memories of the bridge and express hopes for repair or restoration.

Police Scotland has been contacted for comment, with inquiries ongoing about last inspections and next steps for the bridge.

The collapse has triggered a major investigation to determine when the crossing was last inspected and what happens next for its future.

The Spey Viaduct, a 140-year-old railway bridge over the River Spey, collapsed and has been cordoned off, with engineers set to assess the damage.

The viaduct features a 368-foot length, 40-foot height, and weighs 558 tonnes, a historic bowstring design dating to the 1880s.