Queensferry Crossing to close during UCI world cycling race

Motorists have been advised to steer clear and there will also be traffic disruption and rolling road closures in West Fife as the men's elite road race speeds through the Kingdom on Sunday August 6.

The single biggest cycling event in history will bring together 13 world championships in one host country for the first time, with the sport's finest competitors set to wow Scottish crowds over 11 days of action.

The Queensferry Crossing will be closed for a short period on August 6 for the men's elite road race in the UCI Cycling World Championships. (Image: Newsquest)

A huge event, it will bring a much needed economic boost and there have also been local benefits, but there are early warnings of travel delays and congestion on major routes. 

Two bridges over the Forth, the M90 motorway and the A985 and A876 trunk roads are among those set to be affected, as well as local roads in Rosyth, Torryburn, Newmills, Low Valleyfield, Culross and Kincardine.

The men's elite road race will start in Edinburgh, cross into Fife around 10am and finish in Glasgow's George Square and Traffic Scotland said: "The Queensferry Crossing is part of the route and will be closed for a short duration in the morning.

"Avoid travelling in the area by car if you can.

"If you need to use the crossing, you may wish to consider delaying your journey until the afternoon."

It added that the Clackmannanshire Bridge is part of the route and will also be closed for a short period that morning, which will "severely limit road connections north and south of the Forth".

On entering the Kingdom the cyclists will race along:

Ferrytoll Road, Castle Road and Hilton Road, Rosyth;

the A985 to Craigwell Path, Crombie;

Cairneyhill Roundabout;

the B9037 through Main Street in Torryburn to Main Street in Newmills;

Main Street and Low Causeway, Low Valleyfield;

Low Causeway to Sandhaven to Balgonie West, Culross;

the C5 Culross road to Longannet Roundabout and Toll Road, Kincardine;

Feregait in Kincardine to Kilbagie Roundabout;

and onto the Clackmannanshire Bridge.

The route of the men's elite road race in the UCI Cycling World Championships on August 6. (Image: Google)

Representatives from the UCI Cycling World Championships and Fife Council answered questions from the public about the event at a meeting in Culross last week.

Explaining the short-term rolling road closures, the local authority explained: "For the UCI men’s elite road race, police motorcycles will be ahead of the riders stopping any traffic from entering the route to allow the race to pass.

"Once through, the road will reopen. On the day of the event, there will be no access/egress between 9.45am and 11am."

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Spectators can attend the men's elite road race in West Fife but must be in place before 10am and stand on recognised footways as there are no designated viewing points.

No vehicles are to be parked on the route which will be a tow-away zone.

There are other world championship events that will lead to road closures across the country between August 3 and 13 but Traffic Scotland said August 6 was likely to be "the busiest day" on the network, with restrictions in and around Edinburgh, Fife and Glasgow.

Hugh Gillies, director at Transport Scotland, said: “Traffic modelling shows that we are set for a number of days where queues and congestion are likely, and that’s before we factor in any incidents on the network.

“We really need the public and spectators to play their part and check before they travel, to maximise their enjoyment and ensure Scotland is on the global map for all the right reasons.”

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The celebration of cycling will see more than 8,000 participants from 120 countries compete in 13 world championships across seven disciplines.

It will include downhill mountain biking in Fort William, the Gran Fondo in Perthshire and track cycling in the Sir Chris Hoy Velodrome, as well as para-riding, road races and events such as cycle ball and artistic cycling For more information and tickets visit cyclingworldchamps.com.