Storm Bert: Queensferry Crossing ice closure a ‘safety first’ decision

The 1.7 mile (2.7km) bridge which carries the M90 motorway across the Firth of Forth was Scotland’s biggest infrastructure project in a generation when it was opened by Queen Elizabeth II in September 2017.

Corrosion in cables on the Forth Road Bridge, which had opened in 1964, meant it was a priority to reduce the volume of traffic on the older crossing.

But three years later it emerged that the cables used on the new bridge are more prone to icing problems than the earlier bridge which has only once been closed by ice during its lifetime.

Eight vehicles were damaged by falling ice during the first closure in 2020 – and drivers then faced a lengthy diversion via the Kincardine Bridge.

In 2021 it was announced that the technicians would abseil down the bridge and use soap and water to clean the cables in an attempt to address the icing issue.

Saturday’s closure was the first since that action was taken.

Bear Scotland, which maintains and operates the Queensferry Crossing, says its long term aim is to find a permanent solution, but until that happens the best it can do is monitor conditions and shut the bridge when it becomes dangerous.

Bridges manager Dave Bishop said: “The safety of bridge users comes first, and we therefore made the decision to temporarily close the Queensferry Crossing when we identified ice falling from the cable stays and towers of the Queensferry Crossing.

He added: “The diversion over the Forth Road Bridge using the recently installed, fully automated barriers went well.”