Crash causes tailbacks as Forth Road Bridge reopens to traffic

Fifers faced travel times of up to an hour to get to South Queensferry

There were major tailbacks after an accident blocked the Forth Road Bridge on its reopening to general traffic.

Yesterday’s morning rush hour had passed without incident as snagging work on the Queensferry Crossing got started.

But there were problems for travellers shortly after when two cars were involved in a collision at around 9.15am on the southbound route. The occupants of both cars escaped injury.

Until the work is complete, on Wednesday, southbound traffic is being diverted across the Forth Road Bridge while northbound traffic uses the new bridge.

Some motorists travelling south from Fife reported journey times of up to an hour to get to South Queensferry.

Following the collision, Traffic Scotland announced that a lane on the Forth Road Bridge would have to be closed at 1pm to carry out a minor repair, adding to the delays.

Queensferry Crossing was partially closed from 10pm on Thursday due to work to resolve snagging issues.

There was a problem with the surface around the £1.35 billion bridge’s expansion joints, described as a workmanship error.

Yesterday, most commuters reported few delays, with some saying their journey to work had been quicker than normal.

Stein Connelly, Transport Scotland’s operator manager, said the organisation was monitoring the traffic travelling over both bridges yesterday.

“We would like to thank people for their patience, spreading their journeys, and coming out earlier and allowing this morning’s rush hour to be less problematic than we would expect,” he said.

The Forth Road Bridge has been a dedicated public transport route since the Queensferry Crossing opened at the end of August.

We would like to thank people for their patience, spreading their journeys, and coming out earlier