WORK will soon be completed on making the Forth Road Bridge a diversion for the Queensferry Crossing.
The Queensferry Crossing was shut for several hours last Friday morning after sensors detected the potential risk of falling ice from the bridge towers – which was later observed by bridge staff.
Traffic had been diverted via the Kincardine and Clackmannanshire bridges, causing lengthy tailbacks across Fife.
Dunfermline MSP Shirley-Anne Somerville has been told by Transport Secretary Michael Matheson that using the Forth Road Bridge as an emergency diversion in the future was "still the intention".
Ms Somerville said: "The transport secretary confirmed to me that this was a repeat of the same conditions which caused the bridge's closure last year and that the sensors picked up the problem early enough to allow further investigations to be completed before there was any damage to vehicles.
"We discussed the use of the Forth Road Bridge as a diversion route and I am pleased that he confirmed this is still the intention.
"Unfortunately, work to replace the expansion joints on the Forth Road Bridge was delayed due to the COVID-19 outbreak and had to stop between March and May.
"He did reassure me that contractors are due to complete that work within the next couple of weeks and the bridge would then be available to be used as a diversion, should the situation arise again in the New Year."
Tory Mid Scotland and Fife MSP Murdo Fraser said: "I understand ice sensors were fitted on the bridge but they don't solve the problem. The Scottish Government should have looked at the bigger picture and carried out what they have done in other counties.
"They should have looked at other measures to stop this happening, such as fitting heated cables to the bridge.
"I have said before that all this should have been done before the Queensferry Crossing opened to the public. Now we have this shambolic situation where bridge operators are having to close it almost every time it is icy, leading to motorists and lorries having to take lengthy detour routes – it is not good enough and needs addressed immediately."
Both the Queensferry Crossing and Forth Road Bridge will be closed overnight on Saturday to allow Transport Scotland’s operating company BEAR Scotland to test the implementation of an emergency diversion.
All traffic will be diverted via the Kincardine Bridge from 10pm until approximately 8am on Sunday morning.
This will add an estimated 36 miles and 40 minutes to affected journeys.
Chris Tracey, BEAR Scotland’s South-East Unit bridges manager, said: “The purpose of this closure is to test how long it will take to implement an emergency diversion via the Forth Road Bridge in the event that the Queensferry Crossing has to be closed to traffic.
“This is a complex process involving removing roadside barriers and laying a large number of cones and signs, so we need to carry out a trial in order to measure precisely how long it will take and refine our procedures. This will allow us to implement a diversion as quickly and efficiently as possible when required.
“It has always been our intention to use the Forth Road Bridge as an emergency diversion route once its full capacity is available. We’ve been working with Police Scotland and our traffic management contractors to plan this test for some time.
“Ongoing work to replace the main expansion joints on the Forth Road Bridge means that it is not yet available, however, work on the southbound carriageway is expected to be completed within the next few weeks.
“On this occasion, we’ll therefore just be testing how long it takes to open up the diversion and close it again, without directing any traffic over the Forth Road Bridge. A further trial with traffic diverted over the Forth Road Bridge will be carried out later this winter."
Adverse weather had caused the Queensferry Crossing to close to traffic in both directions on Friday last week for just over four hours.
Mr Tracey had stated: "The safety of bridge users comes first and we therefore made the decision to temporarily close the Queensferry Crossing when we identified a risk of falling ice.
“We constantly monitor conditions on the Queensferry Crossing in real time using a bespoke system of weather sensors on the towers and deck. At 4.30am, this system reported conditions conducive for ice formation.
"Patrol staff observed ice falling from the bridge towers shortly after this and the bridge was closed at 4.45am."
The bridge re-opened at 9.05am.
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