Chance of a lifetime on offer to learner drivers

after a fault was discovered Learners will be permitted to drive over the Queensferry Crossing until it becomes a motorway in October or November.

They are among certain drivers and vehicles who have what could be a unique opportunity to cross the new bridge while the Forth Road Bridge is closed to vehicles. However, cyclists will be banned and must continue to use segregated lanes on the Forth Road Bridge.

Other motorists who will have the opportunity to drive over the Queensferry Crossing for up to two months before it becomes the M90 include riders of motorcycles of less than 50cc.

Those riding motorcycles of between 50cc and 125cc will have the option of using either bridge once the Forth Road Bridge re-opens to buses and taxis – when the new bridge becomes a motorway.

However, learner riders of such motorbikes will have to use the Forth Road Bridge.

The Scottish Government’s Transport agency, which is in charge of the bridges as part of the trunk road network, said road orders were in place to ban cyclists.

They are also prohibited – along with motorcycles under 50cc – from a section of the A90 on the southern approach to the Queensferry Crossing.

This runs between the Scotstoun junction with the M90 (formerly the M9 Spur) and the new Queensferry Junction at the bridge.

The Scotsman has been covering the Forth bridges story since the first reports of problems with the original road bridge, looking at the debate over bridge or tunnel and the design of the new crossing