Queensferry Crossing to shut for test of emergency diversion

Drivers using the M90 at Queensferry will be diverted over the Forth Road Bridge this Saturday - in the first trial of an emergency diversion route using live traffic.

Motorists will initially be diverted via the Kincardine Bridge from 10pm on Friday, while emergency crossovers connecting the Forth Road Bridge to the motorways on either side are opened up.

The diversion via the Forth bridge is expected to be fully operational by 6am on Saturday morning at the latest.

All traffic will then use the Forth Road Bridge until 10pm on Saturday, when traffic will again be diverted via Kincardine Bridge while the motorway over the Queensferry Crossing is reopened.

The Queensferry Crossing is expected to reopen by 6am on Sunday morning at the latest, when the Forth Road Bridge will resume its normal role as a public transport corridor.

It is hoped that the trial will lead to the Forth crossing being used when the Queensferry bridge is forced to close. The most recent closure happened earlier this month, when the route was shut due to a risk of falling ice.

Chris Tracey, Bear Scotland’s south-east unit bridges manager, said: "The Forth Road Bridge continues to fulfil an important role as a public transport corridor, however it is now also available to provide additional resilience as an emergency diversion route for motorway traffic, should the Queensferry Crossing have to close for an extended period.

"We carried out an initial test of this process in December and are now ready to trial the full diversion, with motorway traffic running on the Forth Road Bridge.

"It should be noted that emergency diversions over the Forth Road Bridge will normally only be implemented overnight, outside peak periods. This is because the process involves laying large numbers of cones and signs, stopping traffic on the M90 and A90, and moving roadside barriers to connect the bridge directly to the motorways north and south of the Forth. This takes several hours and would cause significant additional disruption to traffic during busy periods.

"We will also only divert traffic via the Forth Road Bridge if the Queensferry Crossing is forecast to remain closed for longer than the time it takes to set up the diversion.

"I would ask motorists to remember that there is a 40mph speed limit on the Forth Road Bridge, and high wind restrictions are more likely due to its lack of wind-shielding.

"There are also no hard shoulders on the Forth Road Bridge – if you break down please remain in your vehicle and our on-site recovery team will get to you as soon as possible."