A HISTORIC bridge that crosses the River Forth is set to close for “essential” repairs this month.
The Kincardine Bridge, which connects Fife with Falkirk, will be closed for two nights over the weekend in September, with a short diversion put in place.
The A985 trunk road will be shut in both directions from 7.30pm to 6am on Saturday, September 27, and Sunday, September 28, between the Longannet roundabout and the Higgins Neuk roundabout.
BEAR Scotland, which is carrying out the work on behalf of Transport Scotland, said the closure is to allow essential maintenance tasks to be carried out safely.
A diversion route will be signposted over the Clackmannanshire Bridge, via the A876 and the A977, adding approximately 3.8 miles and up to eight minutes to affected journeys.
Access for emergency vehicles will be maintained at all times, and the Kincardine Bridge will remain open for pedestrians and cyclists.
Tommy Deans, BEAR Scotland’s south east network manager, has told motorists to allow a few minutes extra for their journeys.
He said: “It’s necessary to close the Kincardine Bridge to carry out these maintenance tasks safely, however the diversion is relatively short and the works will take place at night.
“If you do need to travel on this route on the nights of September 27 or 28, our advice is to allow a few extra minutes for your journey.”
Constructed between 1932 and 1936, the Kincardine Bridge was the first road crossing of the River Forth downstream of Stirling, and was completed nearly thirty years before the Forth Road Bridge.
