Urgent repairs will continue on the Forth Road Bridge in east central Scotland this weekend after work the previous weekend was disrupted by strong winds.
The bridge authority has also confirmed that a further three weekends of traffic restrictions will be required over the following weeks.
On Saturday 17 and Sunday 18 March traffic will be restricted to a single lane in each direction from 3am until 12noon.
Pedestrians and cyclists will be able to cross the bridge using the west footpath/cycleway.
Traffic restrictions may be extended into the afternoon if bad weather delays the repairs. If work cannot be completed over the weekend, restrictions will be in place from 9am until 4pm on the next available weekday.
Weekend traffic restrictions will also be required on Saturday 31 March and Sunday 1 April, and on two further weekends after Easter on dates to be confirmed.
Officials at the4069 Forth Estuary Transport Authority (FETA), who run the Forth Road Bridge, are working closely with colleagues from 4068 Transport Scotland, emergency services and nearby local authorities to co-ordinate these works with traffic management for the Forth Replacement Crossing project and minimise the impact on the travelling public. This includes the restrictions on the M90 that are due to begin on 9 April.
Barry Colford, chief engineer and bridgemaster, said: “Stronger winds than forecast meant we did not make the progress that we hoped for over the weekend. At height on the cable the wind was gusting at over 45mph and this made it unsafe to lift materials and personnel.
“Further investigations have also now established that additional work is going to be necessary over the next few weeks.
“Four weekends in total will be required. This weekend’s work is the most critical and needs to be completed at the earliest opportunity. We will then need another weekend to remove the access cradle headworks and a further two weekends to carry out repairs on another part of the cable.”
Colford said the repair team will attempt to minimise disruption but stressed that significant delays are inevitable. He said any failure to complete the repairs could lead to “far more disruptive and costly repairs” at a future date.
“The majority of the repair works will be carried out overnight or without the need for traffic restrictions, however daylight and a carriageway closure are necessary for us to safely provide access to the main cable,” said Colford.
The bridge authority has also confirmed that a further three weekends of traffic restrictions will be required over the following weeks.
On Saturday 17 and Sunday 18 March traffic will be restricted to a single lane in each direction from 3am until 12noon.
Pedestrians and cyclists will be able to cross the bridge using the west footpath/cycleway.
Traffic restrictions may be extended into the afternoon if bad weather delays the repairs. If work cannot be completed over the weekend, restrictions will be in place from 9am until 4pm on the next available weekday.
Weekend traffic restrictions will also be required on Saturday 31 March and Sunday 1 April, and on two further weekends after Easter on dates to be confirmed.
Officials at the
Barry Colford, chief engineer and bridgemaster, said: “Stronger winds than forecast meant we did not make the progress that we hoped for over the weekend. At height on the cable the wind was gusting at over 45mph and this made it unsafe to lift materials and personnel.
“Further investigations have also now established that additional work is going to be necessary over the next few weeks.
“Four weekends in total will be required. This weekend’s work is the most critical and needs to be completed at the earliest opportunity. We will then need another weekend to remove the access cradle headworks and a further two weekends to carry out repairs on another part of the cable.”
Colford said the repair team will attempt to minimise disruption but stressed that significant delays are inevitable. He said any failure to complete the repairs could lead to “far more disruptive and costly repairs” at a future date.
“The majority of the repair works will be carried out overnight or without the need for traffic restrictions, however daylight and a carriageway closure are necessary for us to safely provide access to the main cable,” said Colford.
