Paint teams go Forth next summer
Page 19
If you've noticed an error in this article please click here to report it so we can fix it.
HAULIERS FEAR that simultaneously closing the Forth Road and Rail Bridges next summer for repair and maintenance would lead to "choking congestion" around Edinburgh.
Andrew Wishart Snr of Kirkcaldy based Andrew Wishart & Sons warns the planned closures by the Forth Estuary Transport Authority (FETA) and Network Rail would force hauliers travelling south from Fife to use the Kincardine bridge.
"This would choke the bridge up." he says. "The amount of traffic trying to (Toss it would double. There is no other sensible alternative for travelling south — hauliers would have to increase their rates to customers to cope with the increased journey times."
At a meeting last Friday the FETA said that resurfacing the southbound carriageway of the road bridge will demand its closure on either 16 weekends or 33 consecutive days next summer.
Despite the tradition that painting the Forth Bridge is a never ending task Network Rail ret to do the job in eight days that means closing the rail t for four weekends durinj summer.
A FETA spokesman said: talks with Network Rail are i at ensuring the minimum ruption to road and rail traN next summer."