Forth Road Bridge to reopen to vehicles except HGVs from tomorrow
The Forth Road Bridge is to reopen to all vehicles except HGVs on Wednesday morning, Scotland's transport minister has announced.
The Forth Road Bridge is to reopen to all vehicles except HGVs on Wednesday morning, Scotland's transport minister has announced.
Derek Mackay said interim repair work has now been completed, allowing the bridge to be reopened ahead of schedule.
It was previously announced it would be closed until the new year.
Mr Mackay said: I am pleased that we are now able to reopen the bridge to 90% of traffic, well ahead of schedule.
Following rigorous testing and inspection of the temporary repair, experts have recommended the bridge is now ready to open to all traffic except HGVs.''
Earlier this month, ministers were forced to close the 51-year-old bridge, which links Edinburgh and Fife, to all traffic after a crack was found in a truss end link during a routine inspection.
A steel splint has been put in to repair the damaged part, with similar splints to be installed at the other seven truss end links - work which can be done safely while the bridge is open.
A full inspection of the crossing is 90% complete, with no material defects detected. Work on this will continue until early next month, with Transport Scotland stating this can be done while the bridge is open.
The transport minister said: With the temporary solution now in place, the remaining work to install the long-term repair can safely proceed without the need for a full closure. The repairs will be carried out with overnight lane restrictions on the bridge.
For the complex and detailed interim repair to have been completed in this timeframe is a tribute to the highly-skilled and dedicated staff who have worked 24/7 since December 3.
Since the closure was put in place, weather conditions have been mainly favourable and the team have been able to complete the repair work in good time.
This has been an unprecedented challenge. We can't lose sight of the fact that many people have been inconvenienced by the closure.
While that is deeply regrettable, I would like to thank the transport operators who pulled out all of the stops to put on extra services.
In fact, I am pleased to announce that ScotRail have decided to continue the additional 5:52am Fife train given the popularity of the service, for as long as demand is evident.''
He continued: We have said all along our focus was on reopening the bridge as soon as possible and so today's news is very welcome.
However we understand that there will be considerable disappointment that the bridge will require to remain closed to HGVs for a few more weeks.
While HGVs account for 9% of overall traffic on the bridge, they represent 32% of the weight the bridge carries. We therefore have no choice but to accept the recommendation of the engineers.
However, we will now work with hauliers to discuss what operational support will be available to them during the period when they cannot access the bridge.
Engineers predict that following the permanent repair at the failed north east tower location, and subject to favourable weather and no further defects being identified, the bridge should reopen to HGVs by mid-February.''
Chartered engineer Mark Arndt, of bridge operator Amey, said: Better-than-expected weather conditions and round-the-clock work by our teams allowed us to progress with the detailed inspection, scaffolding construction and actual repairs quicker than originally anticipated.
While we are pleased to have finished ahead of schedule for non-HGV traffic to use the bridge, we are very aware of the ongoing inconvenience for HGVs not having access.
Public safety has been at the heart of everything we've been doing and work will be progressing over the coming weeks on the additional strengthening works required to enable HGVs to start safely using the bridge.''
The closure of the bridge caused lengthy tailbacks on the diversion routes that were put in place.
Superintendent Fraser Candlish, of Police Scotland's road policing unit, said: Keeping traffic moving safely in the east of Scotland and minimising disruption to road users continues to be our priority, along with our traffic management partners.
We are supporting getting the key route open again as many thousands of people head on their Christmas and New Year journeys.
To ensure the bridge opens to all other traffic, we will be enforcing the closure to HGVs.
Officers will be on patrol on both sides of the Forth, maintaining a visible presence and stopping heavy goods vehicles on the approach. There will also be enforcement through static and mobile cameras.
The restrictions are in place for the safety of all bridge users and I would continue to urge all HGV drivers to leave extra time for their journeys and use the diversions which are being widely signposted and publicised.
Extra officers will continue to patrol these diversion routes also, to respond to any incidents which may occur and keep traffic flowing.''
MSPs on Holyrood's Infrastructure and Capital Investment Committee have already agreed to hold an inquiry to look at the structural defects that led to the closure of the crossing.