MOTORISTS have been reminded that the Kincardine Bridge will be closed this weekend.
It will shut from 8pm on Friday as part of the £16.85 million works that will see a new viaduct at the south side open to traffic for the first time when the crossing re-opens at 6am on Monday.
The diversion route over the Clackmannanshire Bridge, via the A876 and A977 roads, will add around eight minutes and 5.4 miles to journeys.
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Over the last year, a temporary bridge running alongside the original structure has allowed traffic, pedestrians and cyclists to continue using the Kincardine Bridge.
The closure will allow time to connect the road over the bridge to the new viaduct.
David Bishop, BEAR Scotland’s unit bridges manager, said: “The replacement of the southern piled viaduct will help to ensure the Kincardine Bridge’s long-term availability for service as a key trunk route.
“Balfour Beatty have made excellent progress and are now ready to disconnect the temporary bridge and tie in the A985 to the new structure. After this, traffic will run on the new viaduct permanently.
“A full weekend closure of the bridge is essential to allow these works to be completed safely. If you need to use this route on the weekend of 15 to 18 November, our advice is to plan ahead and allow some extra time for your journey.
“We’re grateful to road users and local residents for their understanding.”
When the bridge reopens on Monday there will be daytime lane closures and temporary traffic lights until Friday November 22.
The Kincardine Bridge opened in 1936. An 80 metres section of the piled viaduct at the south side was assessed by civil engineers as substandard in 1984.
Plans were unveiled in 2021 and work on the ambitious engineering project - to build a new section while keeping the bridge open - began in May last year.
The old viaduct has now been demolished and it's about to be replaced by a new reinforced concrete structure.
Bear Scotland said the east footway will remain open to pedestrians and cyclists throughout the closure.
If the works are delayed due to adverse weather or any other reason, the bridge will shut on the following weekend of November 22 to 25 instead.
Work to remove the temporary bridge, complete the new viaduct and reinstate the site are expected to continue until the Spring of next year.
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