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Forth Bridge emergency repairs cause delays Forth Road Bridge repairs 'progressing well'
(40 minutes later)
Emergency repairs being carried out on the Forth Road Bridge over the weekend have been causing delays. Emergency repairs which have caused delays on the Forth Road Bridge have been going well and could finish ahead of schedule on Sunday.
Traffic is being restricted to a single lane in each direction from 03:00 until noon on both Saturday and Sunday. The works, to replace two large bolts near the top of the north tower, require weekend lane restrictions running from 03:00 until noon.
A spokesman for Forth Road Bridge said delays had reached up to 35 minutes but the restrictions were cleared around midday on Saturday as planned. Delays reached up to 35 minutes on Saturday but engineers hope to be finished before midday on Sunday.
The bridge operators said if work was not completed by this weekend, it could spill over to a week day. Further work is due for the end of the month and on two weekends after Easter.
Barry Colford, chief engineer and bridgemaster, said: "These emergency repairs are essential - if we don't get them completed at the earliest opportunity then we could face far more disruptive and costly repairs at a future date. Forth Bridge authorities said that if the weather remained favourable on Sunday then it may be possible to lift restrictions early.
"If the weather forecast is accurate then work will proceed as planned, however there is always the possibility of strong winds disrupting progress when you're working on the main cable 80 metres above the carriageway. Barry Colford, chief engineer and bridgemaster, said: "These emergency repairs are essential - if we don't get them completed at the earliest opportunity then we could face far more disruptive and costly repairs at a future date."
"If work is delayed for any reason then traffic restrictions will be extended into the afternoon, or as a last resort into the next available week day between 09:00 and 16:00."
Alternative routesAlternative routes
Mr Colford said everything possible was being done to minimise disruption, but warned that significant delays were inevitable.Mr Colford said everything possible was being done to minimise disruption, but warned that significant delays were inevitable.
He added: "We are sorry for the inconvenience it will cause. Our advice is to avoid using the bridge at these times, find an alternative route or take the train."He added: "We are sorry for the inconvenience it will cause. Our advice is to avoid using the bridge at these times, find an alternative route or take the train."
Weekend traffic restrictions will also be required on Saturday 31 March and Sunday 1 April, and on two further weekends after Easter on dates still to be confirmed.Weekend traffic restrictions will also be required on Saturday 31 March and Sunday 1 April, and on two further weekends after Easter on dates still to be confirmed.
The repairs were originally scheduled for last weekend after an inspection identified cracked nuts at both ends of one of the bolts that hold the vertical hanger ropes to the bridge's main suspension cables, but high winds meant it had to be postponed. The repairs were originally scheduled for last weekend after an inspection identified cracked nuts at both ends of one of the bolts that hold the vertical hanger ropes to the bridge's main suspension cables, but high winds meant they had to be postponed.