Transport Minister Stewart Stevenson has announced the new multi-million pound crossing over the upper Forth near Kincardine will open on November 19 as the 'Clackmannanshire Bridge'.

Transport Scotland's £120m crossing, which will open up economic opportunities for the surrounding areas and ease congestion in Kincardine, is close to completion with only minor finishing works to be carried out. The bridge is expected to give Clackmannanshire a major boost, by connecting 'The Wee County' with the motorway and trunk road network for the first time.

Transport Minister, Stewart Stevenson said: "I am delighted that this landmark project for Scotland is just weeks away from opening. This impressive new bridge will bring economic benefits to communities across Fife and Central Scotland, opening up access, whilst easing congestion, and improving safety.

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"That so many people took part in the consultation exercise to name the bridge is a clear indication of its importance to the surrounding communities and we thought long and hard before deciding on the final name. I am delighted that we can now reveal our choice of name as the 'Clackmannanshire Bridge'."

After the M74 Completion project now underway in Glasgow, it is the second largest road construction scheme currently on the ground in Scotland and has been constructed by contractor Morgan VINCI, a joint venture between infrastructure services company Morgan Est and VINCI Construction Grands Projets.

It has involved one of the longest deck pushes of its kind in the world and the 26-span bridge, weighs over 32,000 tonnes and is three-quarters of a mile (1.2 km) in length.

As well as the bridge itself, the project also involved extensive improvements to the connecting trunk road network, with 3.6 miles (6km) of roads and 3 miles (5 km) of cycleways being constructed, as well as associated roundabouts.

The public consultation exercise for the naming process attracted over 178 different suggestions with around 30% of those attracting support from more than one person. Suggestions ranged from the final chosen name to the more light hearted ones such as 'Bridge at Jones Diary' and 'Blackadder Crossing'.

The consultation was held in order to gather views and was not a vote. However, responses were overwhelmingly in favour of Clackmannanshire Bridge. New signs with the name 'Clackmannanshire Bridge' will be erected on the near approaches to this bridge.

(GK/JM)