£1.3BN BRIDGE MAY SHUT EVERY TIME IT SNOWS
As 70,000 commuters face misery of 35-mile detour over closure...
THE flagship Queensferry Crossing is at risk of total shutdown every time there is a cold snap, SNP ministers have admitted.
around 70,000 commuters to and from edinburgh faced a 35-mile detour yesterday after falling ice forced the closure of the £1.3billion bridge in both directions.
Transport Secretary Michael Matheson admitted there is no known solution to the problem of ice and snow building up on cables high above the roadway and then crashing down – posing a serious safety risk to vehicles.
it means that the bridge faces the threat of closure every time there is a similar combination of wind, freezing temperatures and snow.
The Mail can also reveal that the only piece of equipment ministers planned to use to guard against dangerous build-ups of ice was a pair of binoculars – and not specialist equipment that was promised in 2016.
Opponents accused SnP ministers of ‘borderline negligence’ because they have failed to act on warnings about the falling ice problem since it first emerged last winter.
at least eight motorists had their
vehicles damaged by falling ice on the bridge on Monday as Storm Ciara blasted Scotland. Blocks ‘the size of footballs’ smashed into shocked drivers’ vehicles and shattered windscreens.
Martin Aitchison, 51, was heading home to South Queensferry, near Edinburgh, across the bridge on Monday afternoon when ice fell on his Vauxhall van.
The joiner said he got a ‘fright’ as the corner of his windscreen was damaged.
Tom Milne, from Aberdeenshire, also had his windscreen smashed crossing the bridge on Monday evening.
He told website Edinburgh Live: ‘I saw other bits fall in front of my car – they were the size of at least a football.
‘One hit my windscreen at the corner, shattered it and sprayed small shards on to passenger seat.’
The bridge was partially closed early on Monday evening before a full shutdown was ordered, which continued throughout yesterday and into today.
Ministers are also now considering back-up plans, including ensuring that there are no roadworks on the Forth Road Bridge during winter months so traffic can be diverted over it.
A contract to set up a monitoring scheme is to be awarded in the coming months to allow the bridge, opened to much fanfare in 2017, to be closed if required. But Mr Matheson admitted that engineers have not yet found a solution to prevent the ice problem.
Scottish Tory transport spokesman Jamie Greene said: ‘Despite repeated promises by SNP ministers that falling ice would not be an issue, the first sign of snow this winter and the bridge is closed to traffic in both directions for a significant period of time.’
He added: ‘Be it roads, bridges, ferries, trains or planes – whatever it is the SNP touches seems to end in financial or logistical disaster for the taxpaying public. This is beyond political incompetence – it’s now borderline negligence and the general public are sick and tired of it.’
Motorists faced a 50-minute detour over the Kincardine Bridge yesterday, extending to at least two hours in the morning and evening rush hours.
The problem of ice on the cables of the Queensferry Crossing emerged last winter when three car windscreens were smashed. At the time, lane closures were introduced rather than a full shutdown.
Mr Matheson says there is currently ‘no single solution’ to the problem. He added: ‘Part of the challenge is trying to understand the different factors that are coming together.’ He said ‘enhanced monitoring’ had been introduced and ice sensors are due to be installed in the coming months.
Last night, officials said they were also using thermal imaging cameras to check the surface temperature of parts of the bridge in their efforts to check for ice build-ups.
SNP ministers recently approved a winter plan for the Forth bridges which emphasised the importance of monitoring weather conditions and foresaw ‘significant disruption’ if warning signs were missed. But smart sensors for temperature, humidity and precipitation – key factors in predicting ice formation – have not been fitted despite being promised by then transport secretary Derek Mackay in 2016.
The Scottish Government’s winter strategy states ‘the main cables, cable bands, main tower faces and tower top lifting beams should be monitored for snow/ice accretion.
‘This can be done by inspection teams using binoculars from the footways or, if conditions allow, from the tower tops and cables.’
Although Mr Matheson insisted the bridge would not close every time there are freezing temperatures and wind or rain, he admitted: ‘There is a risk, there is the same risk with any bridge. So there is always a risk in particular circumstances that it could have an impact on it.’ He said the contractors who designed and built the bridge are involved in finding a solution and any costs would be part of its ‘general maintenance’.
The Forth Road Bridge, now only open to public transport, pedestrians and cyclists, could not be used as a diversion during the latest problem because of roadworks.
Mr Matheson said: ‘It may be it would be better for us to make sure there is no work on the Forth Road Bridge during the
winter months so it could be used as a diversion.’
Mid Scotland and Fife MSP Murdo Fraser said: ‘This is a government in the throes of capitulation. People are losing trust in its conduct, its reputation and its record.’
AA road policy head Jack Cousens said: ‘Drivers will be outraged such an important road can be closed due to weather which is pretty standard for Scotland.’ A Transport Scotland spokesman said: ‘We’ve consulted experts to develop forecasting and operational regimes to best manage this issue.
‘We will further improve our ability to predict ice accumulation by installing ice and weather sensors and incorporating them into the SHMS [structural health monitoring system] of the Queensferry Crossing as soon as possible.’
Can it really be the case that £1.3billion has been spent on a bridge which cannot stand up to a typical Scottish winter?
Commuters who faced a huge diversion on their journey home last night following the closure of the Queensferry Crossing will be alarmed to learn that they will face the threat of a repeat any time there is a combination of freezing temperatures, wind and snow or rain.
Systems are in place on other bridges, such as the Port Mann Bridge in Vancouver, Canada, to minimise the impact on motorists.
Why does it appear nothing similar was considered when this flagship SnP project was designed?