Network Rail has announced a date for the long-awaited reopening of the River Leven Road (Bawbee) bridge, marking a significant milestone in the ongoing Levenmouth Rail Link project.
The bridge, which sits above the new Leven station car park, underwent a complete reconstruction due to structural issues stemming from chlorine contamination and corrosion. The reopening, scheduled for Monday, December 4, will mark the completion of a key stage of the rail project and bring relief to local residents and businesses who have been navigating a temporary diversion route for several months.
The £116 million Levenmouth rail link aims to connect the wider area including the towns of Methil and Leven to the Fife circle line, reopening the original line that was closed in 1972 to passengers. However, the line received funding to re-open to passengers in 2019, with the line calling at two brand new stations in the Cameron Bridge and Leven.
Track laying for line reached the Cameron Bridge station site in June, whilst the new station build at the site welcomed the installation of a new footbridge in September.
"The completion of work on the Bawbee bridge and the full reopening of the road are important steps forward for the project and the local community," said Sean Clemie, Network Rail's project manager for bridge works. "We have had significant interest from the community throughout the work, and we appreciate their patience and understanding.
“The rail work now focuses on progressing the car park for the new Leven Station – with the first step being to remove the temporary diversion route and temporary road bridge.”
Fife Council, which funded the replacement bridge, is pleased with the progress made and the positive impact it will have on the area. "The replacement structure improves our local road network and removes the need for a weight restriction on the bridge," said Councillor Colin Davidson of Fife Council's Levenmouth Area Committee. "We appreciate the patience shown by local residents and the business community throughout this project."
With the bridge reopening in Leven, the focus will now shift to completing the car park for the new station. The first step will be removing the temporary diversion route and bridge. The rail work is expected to be completed by Spring 2024 with the reopening of the line to follow afterwards.
Photo: Network Rail
