ICE sensors will finally be installed on the Queensferry Crossing this weekend.

The Press told you back in February that Transport Scotland was aiming to have them in place by this coming winter.

The £1.35 billion bridge that would supposedly never close was shut for nearly two days earlier this year from the evening of February 10 until the morning of February 12 due to falling ice.

It caused damage to eight vehicles and the incident encouraged criticism of the Scottish Government for not taking sufficient action last March when three cars were also struck by ice.

It was the first time the Queensferry Crossing had to close since its opening in August 2017.

The sensors will now be installed by Transport Scotland's operating company Amey between 10pm and 5am on Friday, Saturday and Sunday this week.

Traffic will be restricted to a single lane in each direction between these hours for the work to be carried out.

They will be fitted on the bridge at deck level and at the tower tops and will help to provide early warning when conditions are conducive to ice accumulating on the structure.

The lane closures will also be used to remove LiDAR equipment that has been used to carry out a survey of wind behaviour around the bridge.

These lane closures are not expected to cause any significant delays.

Mark Arndt, Amey's account director for the Forth Bridges Unit, said: "We know from previous incidents that ice can accumulate on the Queensferry Crossing's cables during a very specific combination of temperature, humidity, wind speed and direction.

"These new sensors won't prevent ice forming on the cables, but they will provide us with significantly enhanced data to detect, monitor and understand the specific climatic conditions that cause this phenomenon."

Transport Secretary Michael Matheson previously revealed that a five-point plan would be in put in place to monitor the condition of the bridge in winter weather with ice sensors part of that plan.

Following a meeting with engineers on the bridge, Mr Matheson said a build-up of ice on towers and cables formed in “unique weather conditions” following Storm Ciara.

Mr Matheson also outlined the possibility of using the Forth Road Bridge in the event of another closure.

During February's closure, motorists faced a 35-mile detour via the Kincardine Bridge as the Forth Road Bridge - now a dedicated public transport corridor - was undergoing maintenance works.

This weekend's plans are weather dependent and may be cancelled or rescheduled if conditions are not favourable.