Work to demolish and rebuild the A905 Kerse Road bridge in Stirling will get underway in April next year, Network Rail has confirmed.

The six-month scheme will see Morgan Sindall work with Network Rail to level and replace the road bridge over the railway to the south of Stirling station. Completion is scheduled for October 2018.

The bridge work is part of a wider programme of improvements on the Stirling line ahead of the electrification of the route as part of a Scottish Government-backed investment.

In addition, the new bridge has enabled Network Rail to work with the council to create the potential to enhance the local road network in line with the City's transport strategy. It also avoids the need for the council to undertake significant maintenance on the bridge in the next few years with the new structure having a lifespan in excess of 100 years.

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Before the structure is demolished, there will be a period of single lane working between January and April 2018 to allow for the diversion of utilities; water, electricity, gas and broadband services.

Iain McFarlane, Network Rail's Route Delivery Director for the Stirling-Dunblane-Alloa (SDA) Electrification project, said: "We know Kerse Road is a critical link in Stirling's road network, and we do not take the decision to request its closure lightly.

"We understand the impact that this potentially will have for both road users, businesses and those communities adjacent to the proposed diversion route. However, this is the best way to minimise the overall disruption that this unavoidable work will have on the local community.

"Delivering this work in a six month closure is a huge logistical challenge, but we have planned carefully with our contractor, Morgan Sindall, and have every confidence in the project team's ability to complete this work with the minimum possible inconvenience."

(LM/MH)