The Scottish Government

This item was published during the term of a previous administration that ended in April 2007

Listen

Kincardine Eastern Link Road

30/07/2003

Transport Minister Nicol Stephen today visited the site where work has started on the Kincardine Eastern Link road.

The new road will by-pass Kincardine village and bring much needed environmental and safety benefits for local residents and the travelling public. It is due for completion in late summer 2004.

During the visit the Minister welcomed the forthcoming publication of Draft Road Orders for the bridge scheme next month.

He also launched a new website which will provide public information about the new Upper Forth Crossing at Kincardine. The new bridge will run from Higgin's Neuk to the former Kincardine Power Station and will be used by traffic to and from Alloa and the west and the north, with traffic to and from Fife and the East continuing to use the existing crossing and the new Eastern Link Road.

The website, along with public exhibitions in Kincardine, Airth and Alloa, will show up to date information about the bridge and surrounding road improvements. A virtual reality model of the improvements

will be displayed, as will information about the design of the bridge and its impact on the environment.

Mr Stephen said:

"The Scottish Executive is investing around £100 million to tackle congestion and improve the quality of the local environment. The new bridge, together with improvements to the approach trunk roads, will transform transport links and open up the area to economic benefits.

"It is important that local people and local communities get the chance to see these developments and make their views known.

"I am delighted to see progress on the Kincardine Eastern Link road. Around 24,000 vehicles, including many heavy goods vehicles, currently cross the Kincardine bridge every day. At present all of these travel through the centre of Kincardine."

The Minister also praised the work done to preserve the ecology of the Forth Estuary, which is an internationally important area for birds.

The route of the new Forth crossing takes into account this Special Protection Area. In addition, on the Eastern Link Road, ponds have been built to house a variety of insects, newts, toads and frogs which breed locally, and which have been relocated in advance of the construction works.

Mr Stephen said:

"Twenty-seven different species of migrating and wintering waterbirds, including divers, sea-ducks, geese, waders and terns, use the saltmarsh and mudflats of the Forth Estuary.

"The route of the new bridge was designed to minimise disruption and ensure the local environment is protected. The exhibitions and website will provide further information about the important environmental aspect of the project."

Estimated costs for the Upper Forth crossing is £89.5 million, which includes estimated costs for the following supporting measures:

• grade separation of the existing Bowtrees roundabout
• upgrading of the existing A876 between Bowtrees and existing Kincardine Bridge to dual carriageway
• construction of a new roundabout junction at Higgins Neuk

• construction of a new roundabout east of the existing Gartarry roundabout

The Eastern Link Road costs £10 million.

This money has been announced previously and will come from the Scottish Executive's roads budget 2003-2008+

Draft Road Orders for the scheme will be published in August 2003. Subject to the satisfactory completion of the statutory procedures, contractors will be invited to prepare bids for the £89.5m project by Summer 2005. Once the new bridge is open essential repairs will then be made to the present Kincardine bridge, which will be treated as a separate contract.

Exhibitions will be held in Kincardine Community Centre on the August 11 and 12, Radisson Airth Castle Hotel on August 13 and Alloa Town Hall on August 14.

The existing Kincardine Bridge opened in 1936 and until the Forth Road Bridge opened was the furthest-downstream road link across the Forth Estuary. It remains the bad weather diversion route for the Forth Road bridge.

Work on the Kincardine Eastern Link road site began in May 2003. RJ McLeod (Contractors) Limited are the contractors, Babtie Group are the Executive's engineers.