Point 1
You are right about equal distance to go round the bridges but I like to have the wind at my back for the cycle home, hence the reason I like to see how it is blowing before I head off!!
Point 2
Not me, I had dropped my bike at my folks earlier in the day as I had the kids in the car so I only went past Champany from Linlithgow direction into Bo'ness at the end of my route.
Point 3.
Only road that was closed was the Wholeflats Road which I don't use going round the bridges. I come off Kincardine Bridge, though Skinflats, left before the big roundabout where ICI was then through Grangemouth past Asda along by BP and left towards Bo'ness at the roundabout where the Wholeflats Road was blocked off. Torryburn / Culross road the way forward when in Fife.