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HGV traffic goes Forth and multiplies
Page 14
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THE FORTH ROAD BRIDGE will have to be resurfaced every four or five years, primarily because of the pounding it is suffering from increased truck traffic, according to the Forth Estuary Transport Authority which manages the bridge.
Bridgemaster Alastair Andrew reports that 680,592 goods vehicles crossed the north-bound toll section of the bridge in 2003; up 2.65% increase on 2002. -And this figure — which only represents a one-way crossing so you have to double it to get the true number of journeys — is continuing to rise," says a spokeswoman for the authority. In all 24 million vehicles crossed the bridge last year; trucks represent 2.5% of this total.
Pat Glancy, from the RHA's Scottish office, says: "How does he work out that such a small percentage of the total vehicles is causing the damage? I just can't see the justification in it."
The authority's warning comes as a L3.5m project to resurface the bridge's southbound carriageway is completed.
"I anticipate that we'll face resurfacing the northbound carriageway in four to five years' time," Andrew adds.
"The had news for drivers is they will again face the sort of disruption we've just experienced."