Completion of new Forth crossing could be delayed by the weather
● No ‘cast iron guarantee’ that bridge will open by end of May
“It was clear from briefings at the end of last year that all tolerance in the timetable had been eaten up by autumn and winter storms”
ALEX COLE-HAMILTON
Fears are growing that the new Queensferry Crossing will not be ready by the revised completion date at the end of May.
Transport Scotland said weather conditions were still havinganimpactonconstruction and it was difficult to give a “cast iron guarantee” that the £1.35 billion bridge over the Forth would be finished on schedule.
The opening has already been postponed once. The crossing had been due for completion at the end of last year, but the Scottish Government announced in June that it would not meet the timetable due to bad weather.
Some 200 extra workers were drafted onto the bridge at the start of the year in a bid to claim back lost time.
But much of the remaining work, including waterproofing the bridge’s deck and removing the cranes and other temporary structures, requires favourable weather conditions.
And sources said the timetable was now getting “extremely tight”.
Edinburgh Western Liberal Democrat MSP Alex Colehamilton said: “It was clear from briefings at the end of last year that all tolerance in the timetable had been eaten up by autumn and winter storms. So it’s hardly surprising that contractors are beginning to manage expectations about a further delay.”
He said the SNP had campaigned on the planned December opening as proof of good project management. “Yet here we are now with no realistic projection of when the crossing will open to traffic.”
Scottish Conservative transport spokesman Liam Kerr has tabled questions at Holyrood seeking assurances there will be no further delays. He said: “The last time there was speculation of a delay, the Scottish Government was slow to respond but eventually set out a new timetable for delivery. We are now edging closer towards the expected date but again there seems to be some doubt as to whether the project will be finished within the timescale suggested. I think MSPS and the public have a right to know what is happening.”
A Transport Scotland spokesman said: “The contractor, is making every effort to open this iconic structure at theearliestopportunity. Wind conditions over the past few weeks have been challenging.”
We may have to wait a little longer to see the latest wonder of Scotland completed. Transport Scotland has said a “cast-iron guarantee” that the Queensferry Crossing will open at the end of May is difficult because of recent severe weather.
Cue outraged politicians leaping on bandwagons. But hold on, let’s get some perspective.
The weather in the Forth has indeed been pretty extreme this year, reflected in the most unusual instance of two lorries being blown over on the Forth Road Bridge in two months.
In fact, prevailing conditions have been such a concern to the bridge builders that they included a whole year’s contingency time because of anticipated disruption from strong winds and other bad weather.
All that time and more has now been used up, which has already forced the bridge opening to be delayed from last December, underlining the challenge faced.
At the same time, there is no longer any immediate threat to the strength of the Forth Road Bridge’s main support cable, which could have forced a lorry ban, and which triggered the new crossing in the first place.
As a result, there is no point at this stage to go hell for leather to meet the timetable if it risks creating an unsafe structure or one with construction problems of its own.
The Scottish Government’s Transport Scotland agency has also ensured the cost of any delays are borne by the contractors, at no cost to the taxpayer – as it has with other major road schemes.
The Queensferry Crossing will be another engineering marvel with which Scotland will be proud. Getting the job finished properly must be the priority.