Transport Scotland has awarded Balfour Beatty a £16.85 million contract for major upgrade works on Kincardine Bridge on the Firth of Forth in Falkirk.

Balfour has already begun work on the two-year long project, with the launch of the site compound set up. Throughout May Balfour will continue to install site compound areas around Higgins Neuk, which will form the base for the construction processes.

The project will also involve the construction of a temporary bridge ahead of the demolition of the Kincardine Bridge's southern piled viaduct and then replacing it with a new reinforced concrete structure.

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Craig Hunter, Balfour Beatty Project Manager explains: "It's great to get this project underway. The first activity that people will start seeing is the creation of a site compound close to the bridge to ensure the smooth, safe running of this major project.

"A core objective of the project is to minimise the impact to road users which is why a temporary bridge will be built later this year adjacent to the part of the bridge that needs to be replaced to maintain the traffic flow throughout the construction.

"While the programme is designed to limit the use of traffic management and therefore disruption, to create the dedicated site access we do require off peak lane closures for a period of three weeks. Once in place, this route will facilitate safe, easy access for site traffic reducing the need for ongoing restrictions."

Balfour Beatty was awarded the contract by Transport Scotland in February. Transport Scotland's operating company for the South East of Scotland, BEAR Scotland is managing the project.