Ministers consider demolition of Forth Bridge

27 September 2007

Local transportation officers have stressed the need for two estuarial Forth crossings, after it emerged ministers had requested that the demolition of the existing iconic structure be considered.

Ministers asked for the study to be carried out in advance of a decision on the 43-year-old bridge’s future, to be made once the effectiveness of de-humidification system to reduce the moisture content in cables was known.

A study by consultants Jacobs and Faber Maunsell, on behalf of Transport Scotland, revealed that it would cost £129M to demolish the bridge.

But a summary of the research – obtained under a Freedom of Information Act request – also reveals that if ministers decide to retain the road bridge, it is likely that the existing deck would have to be replaced, at a probable cost of £328M.

But if new cables are required – consultant Fairhurst is considering this for the Forth Estuary Transport Authority – the total bill to secure the bridge’s future would be significantly higher.

This expenditure would be in addition to the cost of building a new crossing, which Transport Scotland estimates would be a minimum of £1.5bn at 2006 prices, depending on the option chosen (Surveyor, 23 August).

Duncan McLaren, chief executive of Friends of the Earth Scotland, said ministers ‘must wait until they have the costs of repairing the current bridge until they make a final decision on the new crossing’.

But the South East Scotland regional transport partnership stressed that it supported the provision of much-needed extra transportation capacity across the estuary.

Its regional transport strategy supports a new multi-modal crossing, ideally catering for light rail, with the existing bridge providing separate lanes for buses and high-occupancy vehicles.

A spokesman said: ‘We want to reduce single car occupant commuter journeys by 10%, so we need additional capacity.’

Transport Scotland said a new deck was needed to provide a better, thicker carriageway surface – it is difficult to remove, without affecting the waterproofing – and to reduce the cost of painting.

FETA has budgeted £65M to re-paint the existing truss.

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Ministers consider demolition of Forth Bridge

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