Latest excuse for jams on new bridge? The antiques road-slow!
IT WAS a weekend of traffic chaos which saw motorists endure miles of tailbacks as they tried to cross Scotland’s new £1.3billion bridge.
But, rather than blaming bad transport planning for the delays at the Queensferry Crossing, the SNP’s Transport Minister yesterday claimed it was partly down to motorists descending on an antiques fair on the outskirts of Edinburgh.
Humza Yousaf said the event at Ingliston had contributed to the huge congestion. And, despite commuters facing delays most days since the bridge opened last week, he rejected calls to reopen the Forth Road Bridge – and said he hoped to raise the speed limit from 40mph to 50mph to deal with the problems.
Questioned in the Scottish parliament, Mr Yousaf said: ‘I accept that drivers who crossed the Queensferry Crossing will have been frustrated, particularly on Sunday.
‘Events that took place on Sunday, including Pedal for Scotland and the antiques fair at Ingliston, may have added to the frustration.’
Edinburgh West MSP Alex ColeHamilton said: ‘Can the minister be seriously saying that this billionpound infrastructure investment was brought to a grinding halt (by an event) nine miles away?’
Organisers of the antiques fair said it had attracted 3,000 visitors but that many had arrived in courtesy buses from the centre of Edinburgh.
Helen Yourston, director of B2B Events, said: ‘We would suggest that the main problem was that the Forth Road Bridge is now closed.’