Queensferry Crossing closure: drivers endure another morning of diversions

The closure of the Queensferry Crossing has caused morning commuters more delays.

It was shut to all traffic on Monday evening after several vehicles were hit by ice falling from its overhead wires.

Bosses blamed 'a unique set of weather conditions' and set up a 34-mile diversion for motorists to use the Clackmannanshire and Kincardine bridges.

There's no indication yet of when the £1.3billion crossing will re-open.

On Wednesday morning Traffic Scotland reported journey times of well over an hour to get across the Forth.

Chief Inspector Mark Patterson from Police Scotland told Tay News: "Normally a considerable volume of cars come over the Queensferry Crossing. It's just led to an increase in traffic which obviously travels much more slowly.

"I would ask people, as with any time at this time of year, drive to the conditions. Leave time to your journey, leave early and be considerate to other road users."

Hundreds of commuters have been complaining about the delays since the route was first shut on Monday night.

Kandy MacGregor from Leven spent hours in queues on Tuesday taking her four-year-old son Adam to and from a hospital appointment in Edinburgh.

She said: "I do get the reason why it's closed - I wouldn't want anything to happen to anybody - but it has been a bit of a nightmare.

"With my son having special needs, his day is all about routine and this has put his routine out of place.

"With them opening the old bridge up to taxis and buses, opening it up to blue badge holders should've been an option."

Yesterday the Transport Secretary Michael Matheson said roadworks on the old Forth Road Bridge meant it couldn't be opened as a diversion for general traffic.

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