New bridge details outlined

Network Rail officials last week gave more details about their plans for the replacement of Kerse Road Bridge.

In a briefing to Braehead Community Council last week, company officials explained they planned to assemble the bridge offsite, possibly in Springkerse.

The old bridge is to be removed in October during a short window in which train services on the line will be shut down .

It is expected the new bridge will be moved into position over another closure, this time over Christmas and Boxing Day.

Community councillors questioned Network Rail on various aspects of the plan and were told that work was likely to start in June, with the time spent between then and October preparing for the old bridge to be dismantled and taken away.

Network Rail also said they were hopeful that a lane of one-way traffic would be kept open until the existing bridge was removed.

Community councillors also heard that a temporary footbridge would be built to ensure that pedestrian access would continue during the closure, except when the old bridge was being removed and again when the new bridge was being moved into place.

The new bridge will be craned into place over Christmas and after that, from January, the utility companies will move in to connect pipe and cable networks while engineers relay the road.

Network Rail’s engineer added that there are two pivotal periods – when the bridge is taken out and when the new one is dropped in.