24.10.17
Stirling road bridge closes for Scottish electrification plans
Network Rail have confirmed that the Kerse Road bridge in Stirling will close ahead of wider plans for Scottish electrification.
The A905 will close for six months from April until the end of October 2018 while work is implemented to widen the bridge and improve traffic flow on the road.
Work on the Stirling Line comes as part of a greater plan to prepare for electrification work in central Scotland.
Initially the bridge will be reduced to single lane traffic while utilities are moved to a temporary structure. Then, before demolition fully begins, there will be another temporary bridge built for cycling and foot traffic.
Following preparatory action, the road is expected to be closed fully for six months, with traffic diverted to other routes.
“We know Kerse Road is a critical link in Stirling’s road network, and we do not take the decision to request its closure lightly,” explained Iain McFarlane, Network Rail’s route delivery director for the Stirling-Dunblane-Alloa Electrification project.
“We understand the impact that this potentially will have for both road users, businesses and those communities adjacent to the proposed diversion route. However, this is the best way to minimise the overall disruption that this unavoidable work will have on the local community.”
The announcement comes as ScotRail completes a major phase in the Edinburgh-Glasgow Electrification Project (EGIP), with the first of new Hitachi Class 385s completing the route.
The trains were only revealed earlier this month, but projects to add electrical services to the country have been planned for years.
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