Date confirmed for re-start of £1.6m Kirkcaldy town centre project

Work is set to resume on the dual carriageway on Kirkcaldy’s Esplanade.

The £1.6m project to cut the dual carriageway to a single to-way road was halted at the start of the coronavirus outbreak in March.

Contractors are now due to return on July 6.

The project will change the landscape of the town’s waterfront, and create more parking bays to encourage people to visit the parallel High Street.

It will also provide more public space, outdoor seating, and have the facility to host pop-up businesses in a bid to maximise the benefits of the Esplanade.

The return came after the Scottish Government gave contractors the green light to return to their construction sites following a three-month long lay-off.

Newlay, the company handling the Esplanade work has re-jigged its holidays to enable its team to get back up and running without further delay.

Councillor Neil Crooks, convener of Kirkcaldy area committee, welcomed the progress.

He said: “The workforce had been furloughed and had their pre-arranged summer holidays due to run from July 20 to August 2.

This is why we won't be raising a glass at Kirkcaldy's German Beer...

“Rather than stop start, its been agreed with the council that the workforce will take their summer holiday entitlement now and return on site on July 6. That is actually really helpful as I am informed the suppliers are not fully up to speed yet either so receiving materials on site would face a delay too.”

Phase two of the work will involve a switch in the traffic management to allow the creation two new raised crossings which will improve pedestrian/cyclist links at Adam Smith Close and Redburn Wynd.

Traffic will then be diverted back onto the new road and Newlay will start to work on the parking areas, and new footpaths.

Work on the crumbling steps at The Postings Center - now re-branded the Kirkcaldy Centre - has also re-started.

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