Warning to drivers... beware falling icicles
More delays likely as engineers fight to solve problem on £1.3bn bridge
MOTORISTS are facing fresh chaos on the Queensferry Crossing because of falling blocks of ice, transport chiefs have said.
Engineers have been trying to solve the problem of ice forming on the £1.35billion bridge’s cables for the past six months after the windscreens of three cars were smashed last winter.
However, as the country braces itself for the first freezing temperatures of this winter, Transport Scotland confirmed that the problem has not been solved.
Instead, engineers said they planned to install specialised monitoring equipment on the bridge over the Forth to ‘anticipate’ any build-up in the future.
This means traffic control measures such as lane closures will be put in place if ice is detected, meaning commuters could face more delays.
Critics have accused the Scottish Government of failing to deal with the problem quickly enough.
Tory MSP Murdo Fraser said: ‘When Nicola Sturgeon bragged about opening this bridge on time and on budget, she forgot to mention this very serious problem.
‘Not only is this a risk to driver safety, but the disruption it could cause for commuters and businesses is significant.
‘We’ve already seen the economic damage of having the road access across the Forth closed off on the SNP’s watch. This is an issue that should have been resolved long before now.’
An investigation was launched in March after a combination of wind, rain and freezing temperatures caused ice to form on the upper parts of the bridge.
Lanes of traffic were closed at
‘Didn’t mention serious problem’
the time, causing delays for those using the bridge.
Transport Scotland said the hazard was considered in the bridge design process and that such incidents were rare.
However the Forth Road Bridge has closed only once due to heavy snow since its opening in 1964.
A spokesman for Transport Scotland said: ‘A unique set of combined weather conditions, including wind, temperature and moisture caused the build-up of ice and subsequent thawing.
‘Understanding the exact conditions allows us to put processes into place to anticipate when this might happen in future.’
He added: ‘We are also installing additional monitoring equipment, to ensure we can provide early warnings to road users should it be required.’
The Queensferry Crossing has been beset by problems since being opened by the Queen in 2017. In July we told how drivers had been forced to endure delays on one in every three days since being allowed to use the bridge and that there were 121 days of lane restrictions last year alone.
Defending snagging works at Holyrood last week, Transport Secretary Michael Matheson said: ‘The contractor has advised that work will be completed by the end of this year, weather permitting. All works that require traffic management are undertaken overnight to minimise disruption.’
Despite the problems, the Queensferry Crossing was last week named as the best infrastructure project in the UK.
The bridge won the category at this year’s prestigious Rics Awards grand final.