Bennochy Bridge: year-long closure in Kirkcaldy for major engineering works
A busy bridge over Kirkcaldy’s rail line will be closed to all traffic for over a year as part of major engineering works.
Network Rail needs to replace the bridge at Bennochy Road to electrify the main line. Extensive work starts in May with the road closed until June 2027 – and the bridge will be shut throughout that time.
The company has organised two drop-in sessions for people to find out more before the bridge is closed to all vehicles and pedestrians from May 12. Major diversions will be in place. Bus services will also be affected.
In a letter to local householders, Network Rail said: “As part of the works being delivered this year, we will be replacing the existing road bridge over the railway on Bennochy Road near Kirkcaldy station to ensure it meets the required height clearance for an electrified railway, and allows the installation of the overhead line equipment underneath.
“This extensive engineering work is being delivered over 13 months from May 2026 until June 2027, and will involve closing the road bridge for the duration.”
It will take several months of work to divert a number of utilities from the existing bridge and safely house them in a temporary pipe before the bridge work can get underway.
The existing structure will then be demolished later this year - that phase is scheduled for mid October. Piling work to install the foundations of a new bridge will also get underway with work taking place at night.
Network Rail added: “While we will carry out as much of the work as possible during the anytime, many of our activities can only take place at night when no trains are running, as this offers the safest environment for our team on site.
“This means there will be periods of overnight and weekend working. Whilst we will do what we can to minimise this where possible, there will be some disturbance at times. We appreciate this isn’t ideal, and thank you for your understanding.”
Network Rail has arranged drop-in sessions at the nearby Redemption House church at Victoria Gardens on March 16 and 18 from 3:00pm to 6:00pm when members of the project team will be on hand to answer any questions on the work and the wider electrification project.