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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Traffic returns to Forth Road Bridge | Traffic returns to Forth Road Bridge |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Traffic has returned to the Forth Road Bridge after the completion of temporary repairs. | Traffic has returned to the Forth Road Bridge after the completion of temporary repairs. |
| The first cars were allowed back onto the crossing at 05:20 after engineers welded a splint onto damaged steelwork. | The first cars were allowed back onto the crossing at 05:20 after engineers welded a splint onto damaged steelwork. |
| Heavy goods vehicles will remain banned until further work is carried out, with this scheduled for completion by "mid-February". | Heavy goods vehicles will remain banned until further work is carried out, with this scheduled for completion by "mid-February". |
| The bridge was closed to all traffic on 4 December after a crack was discovered in a truss under the carriageway. | The bridge was closed to all traffic on 4 December after a crack was discovered in a truss under the carriageway. |
| In normal operation, the bridge handles 70,000 vehicles each day and closure has caused significant disruption. | In normal operation, the bridge handles 70,000 vehicles each day and closure has caused significant disruption. |
| The partial re-opening is ahead of schedule, with officials having previously estimated that the temporary repairs would not be completed until after the Christmas holidays. | The partial re-opening is ahead of schedule, with officials having previously estimated that the temporary repairs would not be completed until after the Christmas holidays. |
| But the ban on HGVs is longer than expected. Road Haulage Association chief executive Richard Burnett said it would have a "massive impact". | |
| "The major distribution centres on the northern, Fife-side of the river are totally reliant on an efficient, swift transport system and we have had many reports from members who are already struggling to keep to their pre-Christmas delivery schedules," he said. | "The major distribution centres on the northern, Fife-side of the river are totally reliant on an efficient, swift transport system and we have had many reports from members who are already struggling to keep to their pre-Christmas delivery schedules," he said. |
| "The news that they will continue to face delays and a massive increase in cost for another eight weeks will, for many, prove to be unsustainable." | "The news that they will continue to face delays and a massive increase in cost for another eight weeks will, for many, prove to be unsustainable." |
| Chris MacRae from the Freight Transport Association said: "A lot of our members are going to be very upset to put it mildly, that they were planning for a fourth of January return and now it's an unspecified date in the midle of February. | |
| "That cannot be allowed to slip again. It has to reopen to HGVs in the middle of February and we have to have a date for that as soon as possible." | |
| Police officers were stationed at both ends of the bridge on Wednesday to redirect any vehicle over 7.5 tonnes. | |
| A police spokesman said the continued ban on HGVs was being well adhered to. | |
| HGVs account for 32% of the weight the bridge normally carries despite making up approx 9% of overall traffic. | HGVs account for 32% of the weight the bridge normally carries despite making up approx 9% of overall traffic. |
| Transport Minister Derek Mackay said: "I am pleased that we are now able to reopen the bridge to 90% of traffic, well ahead of schedule. | Transport Minister Derek Mackay said: "I am pleased that we are now able to reopen the bridge to 90% of traffic, well ahead of schedule. |
| "Following rigorous testing and inspection of the temporary repair, experts have recommended the bridge is now ready to open to all traffic except HGVs. | "Following rigorous testing and inspection of the temporary repair, experts have recommended the bridge is now ready to open to all traffic except HGVs. |
| "With the temporary solution now in place, the remaining work to install the long-term repair can safely proceed without the need for a full closure. | "With the temporary solution now in place, the remaining work to install the long-term repair can safely proceed without the need for a full closure. |
| "The repairs will be carried out with overnight lane restrictions on the bridge." | "The repairs will be carried out with overnight lane restrictions on the bridge." |