Relief as Forth Road Bridge finally open to all vehicles

Transport: Road Haulage Association claim closure lost firms £600,000

The Forth Road Bridge will fully reopen to all traffic this weekend, 11 weeks after the discovery of a crack f orced its closure.

The busy crossing had to be shut to all traffic early in December, although cars and light vehicles were allowed to use it again just before Christmas.

Scottish Transport Minister Derek Mackay has now confirmed HGVs will beallowed to use the bridge at any time from 11pm on Saturday.

It comes after a phased re-introduction earlier this month saw 600 lorries able to travel northbound on the bridge for a limited period every night.

Mr Mackay said: “It is great to see the Forth Road

“The engineering team has been relentless in its commitment”

Bridge fully reopening this weekend.

The immediate repair work is in t he final stage and no further structural defects have been identified during painstaking investigations by engineers.

“I know that this is something that will be welcomed by the tens of thousands of drivers who use the bridge on a daily basis, especially the heavy goods vehicle drivers whohavehadto observe restricted crossing times in the past few weeks.”

The Road Haulage Association had previously complained that the closure of the bridge was costing firms £600,000.

The 51-year-old crossing hadbeenclosed to all traffic from December 4 after a crack in a truss end link was discovered during a routine inspection.

At the start of February, ministers said the storms which had battered Scotl and had slowed t he progress of repairs, and they warned it could be mid-March before HGVs could have unrestricted access to the bridge.

But to speed up repairs, as much work as possible was done in the factory, lessening the impact of the weather and allowing the date to be brought forward.

Speaking at the bridge control centre, Mr Mackay said: “Tribute should be paid to the engineering team that has been relentless in its commitment to getting this structure reopened.

“The team has worked tirelessly throughout, despite very challenging weather conditions, employing innovative approaches to the repairs and putting in place very effec- tive solutions to complex problems.”

He said that “everything that couldbedonehasbeen done” to speed up the repair process, adding there had been “more favourable weather” recently.

Bridge operators Amey gave the crossing a “full structural health check“while it was shut, and also carried out routine maintenance, with the minister saying this would reduce the need for further closures.

Mark Arndt, Amey’s account director for the Forth Road Bridge, said: “We did work around the clock to try to accelerate everything we possibly could.”

Repair work is now in the final stages and should be completed before Saturday’s reopening, he said, adding that a permanent replacement for the truss end links would be carried out “with minimal closures and traffic management” as part of routine works.

“We’ve got confidence the bridge will be open tomorrow night, it will be fully functional, we’ve tested it so HGVs can return,” he said.

“The finish line is now in sight and by Saturday we’ll have completed all the necessary repairs to safely reopen both the north and south-bound carriageway to all traffic.”

AA president Edmund King said: “It is wonderful news for all drivers in Scotland that this key bridge is to be fully reopened.

“AA RoadWatch has been reporting the knockoneffects of the closure and diversions.

“It is a stark reminder to us of the importance of well-maintained road infrastructure.”

OPEN: All modes of traffic can now use the Forth Road Bridge – the structure had been closed in December when cracks appeared