Dunfermline Press | News | Lorry firms could face bridge fines

Friday, 5th September, 2008

Published: Thursday, 28th February, 2008 09:00

Lorry firms could face bridge fines

FORTH Road Bridge operators will consider imposing financial penalties on the companies whose lorry drivers travel across the bridge despite crossing restrictions in place.

The news comes less than a month after a lorry was overturned by 68mph winds only one minute after the Forth Estuary Transport Authority (Feta) imposed a restriction to high-sided vehicles crossing the bridge.

This was the third incident of its kind in the last six years prompting calls at Feta’s board meeting on Friday for action to be taken.

Councillor Ian Chisholm suggested amending the bridge bye-laws to impose financial penalties on firms whose drivers ignore advisory signs.

Chief engineer and bridgemaster Barry Colford said Feta would discuss the possibility with police.

He added that the risk of northbound lorry drivers ignoring warnings had increased since the removal of tolls on 11th February.

“There was a practice northbound to tell vehicles at the tolls but not now,” he said. “We rely on the common sense of the driver and occasionally police presence when it’s required.”

Mr Colford added that they were considering other ways to deter wind-susceptible vehicles from approaching the bridge when restrictions were in place.

The overturned lorry on 31st January caused the temporary closure of the northbound carriageway and the outside lane of the southbound carriageway.

Mr Colford commented, “The driver literally left as the restriction had been put on. There’s nothing we can do at that point. The driver has made a decision to cross.

“It was a spike that hit him as he passed the south tower. I have no doubt in my own mind that being empty contributed to the overturning. He was overhanging into the southbound carriageway.”

He underlined, “Immediately following the opening of the bridge a convoy of caravans was turned back from the toll booth.”

Feta convener councillor Tony Martin warned, “When we put the signs up we don’t do it for a joke. It’s for the safety of the public. People ignoring them are taking a risk and the risk isn’t worth it.”

The authority has a contract with the Met Office which provides for twice-daily, bridge-specific forecasts with direct access to the duty forecaster.

The bridge is equipped with an anemometer placed six metres above the deck at mid span which records average wind speed, gusts and direction.

It has been proposed that the anemometer readings be linked directly to the Met Office to enable them to model the local wind effects better.

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