WORK is underway on a £16.85 million Kincardine Bridge upgrade.

Balfour Beatty has arrived on site to begin the project which will replace an 80-metre section of the structure.

The two-year plans include construction of a temporary bridge and the demolition of Kincardine Bridge’s southern piled viaduct and then replacing it with a new reinforced concrete structure.

The contractors have started by establishing site compound and access around Higgins Neuk.

From May 15 off peak lane closures on weekdays between 9.30am and 3.30pm will be in place on the A876 southbound towards Higgins Neuk roundabout for three weeks.

This is to allow a dedicated safe, site access road to be created.

Craig Hunter, Balfour Beatty Project Manager, explained: "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."