Drivers’ bridge terror as plunging blocks of ice smash into cars
TERRIFIED motorists looked on in horror as their windscreens were smashed while they were driving – shattered by ice falling from cables on the new Queensferry Crossing.
Three cars were damaged on the bridge on the same day earlier this month.
Transport Scotland has admitted the £1.35 billion bridge could be forced to close during and after future cold snaps to prevent further damage and protect drivers.
It is the latest embarrassment for the Scottish Government’s flagship project, which was delayed by eight months and is still not complete more than 18 months after it finally opened.
On Saturday, March 16, ice fell from the bridge’s cables and landed on cars below.
Transport Scotland confirmed it had ordered an investigation and instructed the Forth Crossing Bridge Constructors (FCBC) group to monitor any future ice build-up in freezing conditions.
A spokesman said: ‘We are aware of three reports of damage seemingly caused by falling ice on March 16. These incidents are being looked into.
‘This is an issue that, in certain weather conditions, has occasionally affected other structures across the UK.
‘In previous years, the Forth Road Bridge was briefly closed to traffic to allow for ice to be cleared from the cables, without any significant traffic impact.
‘Going forward, FCBC will be monitoring the Queensferry Crossing during icy conditions and will liaise with infrastructure support service provider Amey to manage traffic, if required, to ensure public safety. We continue to explore other methods and innovations to prevent this happening in future.’
Scottish Tory spokesman Jamie Greene said: ‘Scotland’s economy needs the Queensferry Crossing to be open year round. It is concerning that Transport Scotland knew the chances of an accident like this and took the risk.
‘If there is a chance of this happening again, the SNP need to be upfront about that.’
Transport Scotland could use remote-control devices to clear ice from the cables in future, according to reports.
A Transport Scotland spokesman said: ‘Over 70,000 vehicles use the Queensferry Crossing on a daily basis. The new wind barriers have undoubtedly delivered a more resilient crossing during severe weather.’
Any decision to close all or part of the bridge would be taken by Amey and FCBC, in the same way as they would to deal with any other issue such as an accident, breakdown or spillage.
This threat of falling ice was considered as part of the design process for the Queensferry Crossing, but considered historically very rare in the UK.
Traffic has only been stopped to clear ice from the cables on the Forth Road Bridge once.
Transport Scotland said other cable-stayed bridges, such as Erskine, near Glasgow, and Kessock in Inverness had not suffered problems with falling ice.
But in 2009, both the M48 Severn Bridge and the newer M4 Second Severn Crossing, between England and Wales, had to be closed after sheets of ice up to a metre square fell from overhead sign gantries and smashed the windscreens of five vehicles.