A NEW bridge over the East Coast Mainline has been approved, despite one person labelling the move “environmentally ridiculous”.

The bridge will replace the level crossing at Markle, which was previously described as one of Scotland’s “highest-risk public road level crossings”.

East Lothian Council’s planning department approved the local authority’s plans and it is hoped the bridge will open next year, alongside nearby East Linton Railway Station.

The £8.7 million bridge scheme will divert traffic south of Markle before approaching the bridge over the busy railway line.

More than a dozen objections were sent to East Lothian Council in opposition to the plans.

Among the concerns was that closing the level crossing was “unnecessary” while “replacing arable farmland with concrete is environmentally ridiculous”.

Work to decommission the existing crossing, which has seen two people killed in the last 15 years, will be carried out by Network Rail after the bridge works are completed.

READ MORE: £8.7 million bridge plan for dangerous county level crossing

According to the planning officer’s report, Transport Scotland has “a long-term remit to increase capacity on the East Coast Mainline and run more services to Dunbar that will call at East Linton”.

The report reads: “It also informs that in 2010, Network Rail embarked on a level crossing risk reduction programme, the object of which is to close and upgrade level crossings, which will improve safety for everyone and reduce the risk that level crossings present to the national rail network.

“The design and access statement further informs that Markle level crossing presents as one of the highest risk public road level crossings on Scotland’s railway.

“The risk would be mitigated to some extent by an upgrade of the crossing; however, the risk will be removed entirely with a bridge.

“Network Rail therefore believes the most effective way of reducing level crossing risk is to eliminate it by closing the existing crossing.

“Subject to project constraints, construction of the new overbridge and associated link road at Markle is likely to commence spring/summer 2023, with an anticipated 40-week construction programme.”

Currently, the road passes through the hamlet of Markle.

Under the now-approved plans, a new road will be created, sweeping south before reaching a bridge over the railway line.

The road will then rejoin the existing road, with Markle only accessible from the east of the busy railway line.

East Linton Railway Station is expected to open in March next year.

Discussions surrounding the return of a station to the village had been ongoing for several years, following the closure of the previous station nearly 60 years ago.

Work started on the site, which will also have a car park for more than 125 vehicles, in 2020.

It is anticipated that it will welcome 350 passengers per day – equivalent to 125,000 people each year.