Queensferry Crossing: Latest bridge closure branded an 'embarrassment' by Fife MSPs

Scotland's most expensive bridge was forced to close for the second time in less than two months due to a "risk of falling ice" between 4am and 10am last Thursday (January 21).

It's believed falling ice hit a roads maintenance vehicle as newly-installed sensors failed to stop danger to drivers but, fortunately, staff from the Transport Scotland-appointed roads maintenance firm BEAR Scotland escaped unharmed after ice fell onto their vehicle on the Crossing.

Drivers were diverted via the Kincardine Bridge, causing major tailbacks on the A985.

Despite moves to re-open the Forth Road Bridge to motorists as an emergency, it was not available, and drivers were warned by operator Bear Scotland not to use it.

Scottish Conservatives MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife Dean Lockhart said: "This is turning into a national embarrassment and a complete shambles.

“Key workers in Fife and Edinburgh rely on the crossing being operational the whole year around, and to be faced with a second closure in as little as two months is very disruptive.

“It is clear that the Scottish Government still hasn’t found a solution to the ice problem, despite having installed sensors, and for a bridge which was deemed ‘the best in the world’ by the First Minister, it better find one soon."

The Queensferry Crossing was last closed on December 4 for several hours after another period of bad weather.

When it opened, the £1.35 billion Queensferry Crossing was expected to remain open in all weather conditions.

Transport Scotland have been criticised for lack of action after reports of ice falling on vehicles in February, last year but, at the start of last month, it announced efforts to prevent the issue with ice sensors installed.

Infrastructure secretary Michael Matheson suggested at the time the administration had learned a lesson from last winter when the crossing was closed following reports of ice falling on vehicles.

Labour MSP Alex Rowley said: "Ministers should be embarrassed that they commissioned a £1.3 billion bridge that cannot operate in ice and snow and it is high time they faced up to their failure and take some responsibility and find a solution.

"The closure of this bridge due to ice and snow impacts on workers across the east of Scotland as well as the Fife and Scottish economies so it is not acceptable and we must find a solution and be able to guarantee the safe crossing of vehicles in winter conditions."

Scottish Conservatives MSP Alexander Stewart added that “it beggars belief” why a standard Scottish weather pattern had yet again prompted the bridges's closure in both directions.

"Something needs to be done and fast; this entire debacle is a danger to motorists and has fast become a national humiliation," he said.

MSP Murdo Fraser said he had received phone calls from key workers who live in Fife who urgently needed to get to Edinburgh.

Transport Scotland said there was no option that prevented completely the build-up of ice after a review of measures on other bridges but options were being considered by Bear Scotland.

Other factors such as cost, success of the Forth Road Bridge as a diversion route, frequency of ice events and safety of road users will be considered too prior to any installation of ice accretion prevention.

A Transport Scotland spokesman said: “Safety of road users is paramount and our operating company took the decision to close the Queensferry Crossing due to the risk of falling ice on safety grounds.

“During any emergency closure of the Queensferry Crossing, a diversion route will be implemented using the Forth Road Bridge or Kincardine Bridge as appropriate dependent on the duration of the closure required. On this occasion, due to the forecast short-term duration of the closure, traffic was diverted via Kincardine Bridge in accordance with established procedures.

“Research and development work is under way to explore a method or technology to mitigate the problem of ice build-up on the bridge in the longer term.”