Concern crossing struggling to cope

FORTH: New bridge already bearing too much traffic

The new Queensferry Crossing is already bearing more traffic than it can handle, bridge maintenance chiefs have conceded.

Around 80,000 journeys are made each day and that is expected to rise to 90,000 per day over the coming decade, far more than the 70,000 capacity built into the old bridge.

“It is clear that at peak times, there is more traffic than the bridge can cope with,” said Scott Lees, head of maintenance for Transport Scotland.

In response to growing concerns about congestion on and around the Forth span, Transport Scotland representatives have reminded Fife councillors that the £1.35 billion project was designed to provide a replacement for the Forth Road Bridge – and was not supposed to increase capacity.

Drivers who use slip roads in a bid to avoid queues have been singled out for making congestion problems worse.

The new Queensferry Crossing is already being used by more vehicles than it was built to cope with, transport bosses have revealed.

The alarming news comes fewer than three years after the £1.35 billion bridge was officially opened, with latest traffic data confirming the volume of traffic is beyond what the bridge was designed for, particularly during peak times.

Addressing councillors at the South and West Fife area committee, Scott Lees, head of transport maintenance for Transport Scotland, said: “There is this view that the new bridge was built and there should be no congestion.

“But it is important to remember that the Queensferry Crossing was modelled on the old Forth Road Bridge’s capacity of 70,000 vehicles a day and built as a replacement. It doesn’t increase the provision across the Forth.

“We are well past that now and are currently operating at 24 million vehicles per year at around 80,000 per day.

“It is clear that at peak times, there is more traffic than the bridge can cope with.”

John Russell, operations manager at Forth Estuary Transport Authority, said the problem is being made worse by some drivers using slip roads on and off the main route as rat runs in a bid to dodge queues.

“Rat running actually adds to the problems. Drivers don’t actually gain any time. Even if you skip that line, you’re not beating the traffic, as you still have to rejoin.

“If drivers would just stay on the main line, traffic flow would move much smoother.”

He said future traffic volumes would also be influenced by the developers’ desires to build more homes on either side of the crossing.

“We are already seeing land originally acquired for the bridge that has not been used being handed back and that, coupled with the increase in planning applications on both sides of the crossing, will undoubtedly play a significant part in the volume of traffic.”

“There is more traffic than the bridge can cope with. SCOTT LEES, TRANSPORT SCOTLAND

With a 10-year operating plan in place, it is estimated vehicle numbers will continue to increase to around 90,000 per day over the coming decade.

Both Mr Lees and Mr Russell said the best way to cope with the traffic was to encourage more people to use public transport, adding a robust public transport strategy would be vital.

Conservative councillor Tony Orton asked about opening the Forth Road Bridge to ease the congestion.

Mr Russell said that would require significant changes to the existing local road layout, a move that transport bosses had ruled out.

He said: “I don’t think you’d get as much benefit as you might think, as the capacity at either end is very limited, so you’d just be moving the bottleneck somewhere else.”

He added because an act of parliament was passed to change the Forth Road Bridge to a public transport gateway, the legislation would have to be changed before any alternative scheme could go ahead.

The opening of the Queensferry Crossing was celebrated in Fife as a massive leap forward for the kingdom’s connectivity.

Residents and businesses had been suffering for years from interminable traffic jams, regular disruption and constant concern that bad weather could close the bridge completely.

The successful planning and construction of the new bridge, which opened in August 2017, is one of the notable achievements of the SNP in government.

Yet less than three years later Fifers are facing familiar frustrations. Traffic jams and delays are once again a regular occurrence.

Now transport bosses have made the stark admission the bridge is already carrying more traffic than it can handle.

That seems an extraordinary state of affairs – but will come as no surprise to anyone who has tried to use the crossing at peak times recently.

It is also understandable that drivers stuck in these queues would feel extreme irritation at looking across to the old Forth Bridge to see it lying empty and unused.

The focus on climate change makes reopening the old bridge politically impossible and it is clear increased use of public transport will be essential.

Recent proposals for a tram connection look unlikely to get off the ground but other innovative solutions could and should be found.

The Queensferry Crossing was modelled on the old Forth Road Bridge’s capacity of 70,000 vehicles per day.