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| Forth Road Bridge to be closed until new year | Forth Road Bridge to be closed until new year |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| The Forth Road Bridge is to be closed until the new year because of structural faults, transport minister Derek Mackay has said. | The Forth Road Bridge is to be closed until the new year because of structural faults, transport minister Derek Mackay has said. |
| The bridge has been closed since midnight with initial guidance saying it would be shut for at least 24 hours. | The bridge has been closed since midnight with initial guidance saying it would be shut for at least 24 hours. |
| The minister has now said it would need at least three weeks to repair the bridge and safety was "paramount". | The minister has now said it would need at least three weeks to repair the bridge and safety was "paramount". |
| He said a full travel plan was being prepared, including extra trains and buses and possibly a ferry. | He said a full travel plan was being prepared, including extra trains and buses and possibly a ferry. |
| Early on Friday morning, 11-mile tailbacks were reported approaching the Kincardine Bridge, the alternative route across the Forth from Fife to Edinburgh. | Early on Friday morning, 11-mile tailbacks were reported approaching the Kincardine Bridge, the alternative route across the Forth from Fife to Edinburgh. |
| Follow our Scotland Live page for regular updates | Follow our Scotland Live page for regular updates |
| At a media conference, engineers said a 20mm-wide crack in a truss under the southbound carriageway close to the bridge's north tower could not have been predicted and happened quickly. | At a media conference, engineers said a 20mm-wide crack in a truss under the southbound carriageway close to the bridge's north tower could not have been predicted and happened quickly. |
| They said continuing to allow traffic to use the bridge would "increase the risk of causing extensive secondary damage to the structure". | They said continuing to allow traffic to use the bridge would "increase the risk of causing extensive secondary damage to the structure". |
| The transport minister said he anticipated the 51-year-old bridge, which is due to be replaced by a new crossing in about a year, would be open for commuters returning to work in January. | The transport minister said he anticipated the 51-year-old bridge, which is due to be replaced by a new crossing in about a year, would be open for commuters returning to work in January. |
| Mr Mackay said there would be about a week of further inspections and two weeks to carry out the repairs. | Mr Mackay said there would be about a week of further inspections and two weeks to carry out the repairs. |
| He said the work was weather-dependent and it was difficult to predict exactly how long it would take. | He said the work was weather-dependent and it was difficult to predict exactly how long it would take. |
| The minister said additional rail, ferry and park-and-ride facilities are to be put in place. | The minister said additional rail, ferry and park-and-ride facilities are to be put in place. |
| Emergency service vehicles will still be able to use the bridge when responding to calls. | Emergency service vehicles will still be able to use the bridge when responding to calls. |
| Mr Mackay said "We are aware of the potential economic impact, for strategic traffic in the east of Scotland and on people living in local communities. | Mr Mackay said "We are aware of the potential economic impact, for strategic traffic in the east of Scotland and on people living in local communities. |
| "This is an unprecedented challenge in the maintenance of the Forth Road Bridge. On balance following advice from engineers and independent experts, the full closure is essential for the safety of the travelling public and to prevent further damage to the structure of the bridge." | "This is an unprecedented challenge in the maintenance of the Forth Road Bridge. On balance following advice from engineers and independent experts, the full closure is essential for the safety of the travelling public and to prevent further damage to the structure of the bridge." |
| Rob Shorthouse, ScotRail communications director, said they had managed "so far" to increase the train capacity between Glenrothes and Edinburgh by about 25%, from 81 journeys a day to over 100. | |
| He said: "This is a really difficult set of circumstances because services are busy. | |
| "All the trains that we have got are out there on the network. | |
| "So, because this is such a national priority we are looking right across Scotland to see where we can move some capacity." | |
| A Stagecoach spokesman said: "Stagecoach has on Friday operated a number of extra buses between Fife and Edinburgh and will continue to do so, wherever possible, to provide extra capacity to enable customers to travel by public transport rather than driving, helping to alleviate traffic congestion in the affected areas. | |
| "Customers are able to use both Ferrytoll Park and Ride and Halbeath Park and Ride sites in Fife to leave their cars and take the bus to Edinburgh." | |
| The southbound carriageway of the bridge has been shut since the discovery of steelwork defects during inspections on Tuesday. | The southbound carriageway of the bridge has been shut since the discovery of steelwork defects during inspections on Tuesday. |
| Since then engineers have identified eight other parts of the bridge where similar problems could be encountered. | Since then engineers have identified eight other parts of the bridge where similar problems could be encountered. |
| The decision to close the bridge completely was taken late on Thursday after the latest reports indicated the faults were more serious than had earlier been thought. | The decision to close the bridge completely was taken late on Thursday after the latest reports indicated the faults were more serious than had earlier been thought. |
| Now more than 50 years old, the planned traffic capacity of the bridge is regularly exceeded, shortening its projected lifespan. | Now more than 50 years old, the planned traffic capacity of the bridge is regularly exceeded, shortening its projected lifespan. |
| Concern about corrosion of the main suspension cables, first confirmed more than a decade ago, prompted ministers to order a new crossing. | Concern about corrosion of the main suspension cables, first confirmed more than a decade ago, prompted ministers to order a new crossing. |
| A new £1.4bn Queensferry Crossing over the Firth of Forth is due to open in December next year. | A new £1.4bn Queensferry Crossing over the Firth of Forth is due to open in December next year. |
| Have you been affected by the Forth Road Bridge closure? Let us know about your experiences. Email haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk with your stories. | Have you been affected by the Forth Road Bridge closure? Let us know about your experiences. Email haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk with your stories. |
| Please include a contact number if you are willing to speak to a BBC journalist. You can also contact us in the following ways: | Please include a contact number if you are willing to speak to a BBC journalist. You can also contact us in the following ways: |
| Or use the form below: | Or use the form below: |