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New bridge over upper Forth opens | New bridge over upper Forth opens |
(about 11 hours later) | |
A new road bridge across the upper Forth has been opened by First Minister Alex Salmond. | A new road bridge across the upper Forth has been opened by First Minister Alex Salmond. |
The £120m Clackmannanshire Bridge will be open to vehicles, cyclists and pedestrians. | The £120m Clackmannanshire Bridge will be open to vehicles, cyclists and pedestrians. |
The new crossing, which will be an alternative to the existing Kincardine bridge, is designed to take traffic away from a notorious bottleneck. | The new crossing, which will be an alternative to the existing Kincardine bridge, is designed to take traffic away from a notorious bottleneck. |
About 20,000 vehicles a day are expected to use it, while 18,000 will continue to use the Kincardine Bridge. | About 20,000 vehicles a day are expected to use it, while 18,000 will continue to use the Kincardine Bridge. |
Before the bridge's opening more than 16,500 vehicles passed through Kincardine village every day. | Before the bridge's opening more than 16,500 vehicles passed through Kincardine village every day. |
The new bridge will by-pass the village and Transport Scotland said this number was expected to drop by more than 80% to 2,800. | |
'Unique gateway' | 'Unique gateway' |
However, villagers in nearby Kinross-shire have expressed concerns about potential increases in traffic. | However, villagers in nearby Kinross-shire have expressed concerns about potential increases in traffic. |
They have petitioned Holyrood to call for the the A977 to be redesigned. | They have petitioned Holyrood to call for the the A977 to be redesigned. |
They want to see about £1.5m spent to build three large roundabouts on the A977, as well as smaller safety measures, to make it less attractive to lorry drivers. | They want to see about £1.5m spent to build three large roundabouts on the A977, as well as smaller safety measures, to make it less attractive to lorry drivers. |
The signatures have come from villages such as Blairingone, Powmill, Crook of Devon, Drum and Balado, which are expecting a big increase in bridge traffic. | The signatures have come from villages such as Blairingone, Powmill, Crook of Devon, Drum and Balado, which are expecting a big increase in bridge traffic. |
The opening of the new bridge will also see Clackmannanshire joined to the motorway network for the first time. | The opening of the new bridge will also see Clackmannanshire joined to the motorway network for the first time. |
Mr Salmond said: "This is a world-class infrastructure project which will cut journey times, improve central Scotland connections, and provide a unique gateway to Clackmannanshire, Fife and Falkirk. | Mr Salmond said: "This is a world-class infrastructure project which will cut journey times, improve central Scotland connections, and provide a unique gateway to Clackmannanshire, Fife and Falkirk. |
"For local communities the Clackmannanshire Bridge will deliver not only visitors, but safer roads and environmental benefits. | "For local communities the Clackmannanshire Bridge will deliver not only visitors, but safer roads and environmental benefits. |
"It will remove the long-standing congestion from the centre of Kincardine and encourage safe cycling, whilst benefitting local businesses." | "It will remove the long-standing congestion from the centre of Kincardine and encourage safe cycling, whilst benefitting local businesses." |
Clackmannanshire Council is hopeful the new bridge will also bring financial benefits to the Wee County. | Clackmannanshire Council is hopeful the new bridge will also bring financial benefits to the Wee County. |
Among those attending the bridge's opening was trainee engineer Joseph McDermott. He is the second generation in his family to work on a local bridge, as his grandfather worked on the Kincardine Bridge. | Among those attending the bridge's opening was trainee engineer Joseph McDermott. He is the second generation in his family to work on a local bridge, as his grandfather worked on the Kincardine Bridge. |