Bennochy Bridge closure: the long, 12-month diversion round Kirkcaldy facing drivers
Network Rail is pushing ahead with plans to close the busy Bennochy Bridge in Kirkcaldy for 12 months - despite pausing a similar project in Thornton after a huge community backlash.
The projects are key parts of the £324m electrification of the line from Haymarket in Edinburgh to Ladybank.
Bennochy Bridge will close to all traffic from May 12, with a year-long major detour in place for all drivers. The closure will also impact on a number of bus services in and out of the Lang Toun – but the diversion outlined by the company has yet to be signed off.
The bridge needs to be demolished and then rebuilt at a higher level to give the clearance necessary for trains on the upgraded lines – and much of the timescale is taken up by the need to sort out all utilities before work commences.
But a similar project in Thornton is on hold after Network Rail’s plan to shut Main Street to all traffic for 14 months ran into a wall of opposition. Over 175 people packed a drop-in session to hold the company to account, and Fife Council has now withdrawn the traffic order allowing the closure until all options have been considered.
At the meeting, Network Rail officials seemed to hint that the Bennochy Bridge project could also be paused while it reflected on how it has handled its engagement, but it was confirmed this week, it will go ahead.
Sara Wilson, service manager for roads network management at Fife Council, confirmed that the Temporary Traffic Order (TTRO) for Bennochy Bridge has been agreed in principle.
She said: "We are continuing to work with Network Rail, which is leading the project, to finalise the traffic management arrangements and the signing plan for the closure.
"Network Rail has submitted a ‘Notice of Intent’ to close the road to allow essential diversionary works to take place. This process requires a legal order, and any adjustments to the diversion route will not affect the timetable for putting the order in place. The TTRO is scheduled to take effect from May. 12.”
The sheer scale of the diversions was also highlighted this week with traffic set for a major detour round the Lang Toun in order to get from one side of the bridge to the other. Council officers stressed the final route had yet to be agreed – despite the project starting in a matter of weeks – and their aim was to minimise delays “as far as practicable.”
As it stands, under Network Rail’s proposal, traffic coming down Bennochy Bridge into town will be diverted towards Forth Avenue and across the roundabout at Aldi and on past Dundee College of Midwifery. The detour will take them along to the roundabout at Beveridge Park and down Nicol Street to the Esplanade where they will turn left at Volunteers Green and continue along the waterfront and up The Path to the Ravenscraig flats at the bottom of St Clair Street.
They will then turn left along Millie Street and on to Victoria Road … passing Bennochy Bridge on the right as they finally head into town.
The scale of the diversion has surprised many locals as it aims to avoid rat runs being created on congested residential side streets.
The bridge is also key to a number of bus routes, and details have yet to be confirmed on how its closure will impact on services.
A Stagecoach South Scotland spokesperson said: “We’re aware of the planned bridge closures in Kirkcaldy and Thornton and are currently in discussions with Fife Council to agree appropriate arrangements. Our focus is on identifying mitigations that will minimise disruption for our customers while this essential rail project is carried out, and we will share further details on any service changes once these plans have been finalised.”