Forth Bridge Delays As Cables Checked

Drivers are being warned to plan ahead and consider changing their route this morning as engineering works reduce the Forth Road Bridge to one lane.

A contraflow will be in place to prepare for inspections of the main cable. The restrictions are to allow preparatory work to be completed in advance of an inspection of the main cable. Steelwork will be erected near the top of the south tower so that an access platform can be winched into position.

Significant queues are expected to build up after 9.30am, though restrictions will be lifted at around 10.30.

The inspection has been ordered after an increase in wire breaks within the main cable was detected at this location. The breaks were detected using an acoustic monitoring system, which uses microphones along the length of the cable to detect breaks amongst the 11,618 high tensile steel wires that make up each main cable.

Barry Colford, Bridges Manager for the Forth Bridges Unit, said: 

"These restrictions are necessary for safety while steel beams are erected on the main cable high above the carriageway.

"The beams will allow us to hoist an access platform into position so that we can open up the cable for inspection. The purpose of the inspection is to determine whether the recent increase in wire breaks that was detected is indicative of a longer term problem.

"It’s worth repeating that, while these breaks do merit further investigation, there are no immediate safety concerns and the cables still have more than enough strength to do their job. 

"Once we know the results of the inspection we will recommend any further action that is required to ensure the bridge remains safe and open to traffic."