This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-edinburgh-east-fife-35165201
The article has changed 9 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 5 | Version 6 |
|---|---|
| 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 80,000 vehicles each day and closure has caused significant disruption. | In normal operation, the bridge handles 80,000 vehicles each day and closure has caused significant disruption. |
| Bridge operator, Amey, said: "Traffic has been running very well all day since the bridge reopened. There have been no queues and no delays." | Bridge operator, Amey, said: "Traffic has been running very well all day since the bridge reopened. There have been no queues and no delays." |
| 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". | 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 middle of February. | 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 middle 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." | "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. | 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. By midday five lorries had been turned away. | |
| 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. |
| Scottish government transport minister Derek Mackay said the estimated reopening date for HGVs of mid-February "felt accurate" based on the work programme but it was weather dependent and assumed no further faults were found. | Scottish government transport minister Derek Mackay said the estimated reopening date for HGVs of mid-February "felt accurate" based on the work programme but it was weather dependent and assumed no further faults were found. |
| He told the BBC's Good Morning Scotland programme: "I am very certain that we'll meet that date of mid-February for the bridge to be open to HGVs. | He told the BBC's Good Morning Scotland programme: "I am very certain that we'll meet that date of mid-February for the bridge to be open to HGVs. |
| "Of course it's good news this morning that it's open to 90% of traffic and HGVs should follow early next year. Mid-February is as accurate a date I can give based on engineers' opinion at this time." | "Of course it's good news this morning that it's open to 90% of traffic and HGVs should follow early next year. Mid-February is as accurate a date I can give based on engineers' opinion at this time." |
| Mr Mackay said the revised date for full reopening was based on data gathered from load testing. | Mr Mackay said the revised date for full reopening was based on data gathered from load testing. |
| "We weren't satisfied with the results. That's why further strengthening works are required. It's partly a precautionary measure to give us absolute certainly that it's safe and effective to allow HGVs across from mid February." | "We weren't satisfied with the results. That's why further strengthening works are required. It's partly a precautionary measure to give us absolute certainly that it's safe and effective to allow HGVs across from mid February." |