WORK ON the new Upper Forth Crossing at Kincardine has passed another milestone.

A huge drilling rig which has been drilling the riverbed for the 25 support columns to support the bridge deck has completed its work. Depending on the weather it is scheduled to leave, as it arrived, on a barge for Rosyth this Sunday.

For safety reasons, as the barge passes under the existing Kincardine Bridge, it has been decided to close the bridge from 8-9.30pm so the sight of it won’t distract passing motorists.

Graham Porteous, project co-ordinator for Transport Scotland, the national transport agency responsible for trunk roads, said completing the drilling and moving the rig was another step forward in a major project.

“We are pleased work is progressing on time and look forward to the long-term benefits the new bridge will bring,” he said. “In the interests of safety, it has been agreed to close the A876 Kincardine Bridge while the barge moves beneath it to avoid causing driver distraction.”

Traffic will be diverted on a signed route—northbound on the A977 to Alloa and via the A907, then southbound on the A91 to join the M9 at Pirnhall.

Moving the rig does depend on the weather and if Sunday’s conditions are unsuitable, it will be re-scheduled. Tide-linked alternatives are pencilled in that could see the rig being moved at 8.30pm on Monday, from 8.30 or 9am on Tuesday, April 3 or at 9am or 9.30pm on April 4.

All would take 90 minutes.