A £700,000 PROJECT to build a shared-use path in Dunfermline for pedestrians and cyclists will take six months to complete.

Work is under way at Aberdour Road, on a two-kilometre stretch between Hospital Hill and the Masterton roundabout, to create a safer route for those on two wheels.

Currently, it only has narrow cycle lanes, painted on the carriageway, with riders having to share the road with traffic.

Councillor James Calder, convener of the City of Dunfermline area committee, said: "This path will make it safer for cyclists on what is a crucial route in Dunfermline.

"Obviously, with it going near to key centres of economic activity such as the Pitreavie Business Park, it will hopefully encourage more to move from cars to bikes which will benefit the environment.

"The path also is near a number of schools so will hopefully also encourage more young people to cycle to school as well which will have a really positive impact on their health.

"This is an important local project in the context of climate change and I am sure it will have a positive impact."

The east section of Aberdour Road, from Masterton roundabout to Fordell Firs and the B981, already has an off-carriageway shared pedestrian and cycle track.

The new path will be three-and-a-half metres wide and there will be a half-metre "safety buffer zone" between it and the kerb.

During 2021 and 2022, Fife Council engineers studied the west half of Aberdour Road to see if it was possible to convert some of the footways into an off-road track for pedestrians and cyclists and make it the same as the east half.

With preliminary work completed, construction is now under way.

It's being funded by Transport Scotland’s ‘Cycling Walking and Safer Routes' budget and the shared-use path should be finished by the summer.

A spokesperson for Fife Council explained: "We propose to extend the existing off-road active travel provision.

"That means the whole length of Aberdour Road will have a shared pedestrian/cycle track.

"This will benefit young riders or cyclists that do not have a lot of experience, as it's off-road.

"Commuting cyclists that do not wish to travel in traffic will also see a benefit.

"The route links to National Cycle route 1, shops, a primary school, nursery and a church, as well as serving several communities along the way."

A new toucan crossing on Masterton Road, at the roundabout, will connect the old and new shared-use paths.

The spokesperson added: "We will also build a new pedestrian/cycle zebra crossing.

"This will cross from the south side of Aberdour Road to the north side, immediately west of the Blacklaw Road mini-roundabout.

"We will also instal toucan crossings on the A823 at Hospital Hill, linking to the existing shared pedestrian/cycle track on the west side. This will allow onward journeys to the city centre."