THE PROJECT to build a new bridge at Kincardine took a major step forward yesterday as the decking began its journey across the Forth.

Over the next two weeks the support structure for the road will be pushed about 45 metres out over the river from the Fife side.

It is one of the longest such projects ever to have been attempted in the world.

The deck has already been slotted into place on supports over 90 metres on the Fife side, but yesterday was the first time it had edged out over the water.

Drivers using the Kincardine Bridge should get a better idea of how the £120 million Upper Forth Crossing will look when the latest phase of the project is completed in two weeks.

Work began last summer when Scottish Transport Minister Tavish Scott launched the project to build the bridge, which he said would be “world class.”

Preparations on both sides of the Forth where the bridge will make landfall, near Airth on the south side and at Kincardine on the opposite shore, are well under way.

The work involves the construction of about four miles of approach roads, including a roundabout at Higgin’s Neuk on the south side. Traffic heading for Fife and the east will use the original Kincardine Bridge, while vehicles bound for Clackmannanshire will branch off at Higgin’s Neuk and use the new crossing.

The bridge will land at the site of the former Kincardine power station on the outskirts of the Fife village.

It is hoped the crossing will reduce traffic congestion in Kincardine, one of the most polluted villages in Scotland. It is also meant to ease jams at the infamous Bowtrees junction on the M876.

The project, which includes the refurbishment of the Kincardine Bridge, is being overseen by Transport Scotland, which looks after the trunk road network.

Graham Porteous, Transport Scotland’s project co-ordinator, said, “Carrying out the third push launch is another major step forward in the new Upper Forth Crossing project.

“It is taking forward an element of construction that is a significant technical feat of engineering in its own right.

“People will now start to see the deck coming out across the Forth and we expect it to land on the other side in May next year.

“Work is progressing on time and we look forward to the long-term benefits this project will bring in improving connections between the Forth Valley and central Scotland by providing another Forth crossing.”

The bridge deck will be 1.2 kilometres long, weigh 35,000 tonnes and sit on 25 piers, each of which is filled with 840 tonnes of concrete.