THE £120 MILLION Upper Forth Crossing at Kincardine now reaches almost half way across the water and is on target for completion in autumn next year.

Work began last summer and already the new bridge is taking shape. The first of the bridge decking was put in place in March and it is being rolled across the 25 supporting piers, which are each filled with 840 tonnes of concrete, at a rate of 45 metres every nine days.

In just over a week it will be half way across the estuary.

The bridge supports were driven into place by one of the world’s largest piling rigs, Excalibur, before the decking was launched from the north shore.

It is one of the longest projects of its kind attempted in the world, and is second only to a viaduct in Bavaria.

When complete, the bridge deck will be 1.2km long and weigh 35,000 tonnes. It will make landfall near Airth on the south side and at Kincardine on the opposite shore, at the site of a former power station on the outskirts of the Fife village.

A spokesman for Transport Scotland said the decking was being pushed out from the north shore to avoid wildlife sites on the south side being damaged by building operations.

She said, “The Firth of Forth has a number of sites of interest for nature on both banks and that was taken into account when choosing the alignment of the bridge.

“There are also measures included in the bridge scheme to provide around eight hectares of new habitat around the estuary, which is an area 10 times larger than the area impacted upon by the project.”

Next weekend work will get under way to link the new bridge with the road network.

Contractors will join the north end of the new A876 with the existing A977 between the Tulliallan Quarry and Gartarry Roundabout. Work will start next Friday at 7pm and end on the Monday at 6.30am.

To ensure the safety of workers and motorists during that time, there will be lane closures on the A977 and this will have an impact on surrounding roads.

Transport Scotland, responsible for the trunk road network, is overseeing the project, which also includes the refurbishment of the existing Kincardine Bridge.

Graham Porteous, Transport Scotland’s project co-ordinator, said, “The network tie-in is another important step forward. There will be a level of disruption associated with the works, however this will be short term. We urge drivers to plan their journeys accordingly and to show due care.”

Drivers are urged to plan their journeys in advance, take an alternative route or consider public transport, and leave plenty of extra time for their journeys.

It is hoped the crossing will reduce traffic congestion in Kincardine, one of the most polluted villages in Scotland, as well as easing jams at the infamous Bowtrees junction on the M876.

The project has provided employment for more than 150 local residents. Of the 180 people working on the bridge scheme, 85% of these live within 10 miles of the site.