RESEARCH on ways to prevent ice build-ups on the Queensferry Crossing will take place this year.

The announcement comes after falling chunks of ice created dangerous conditions over the winter months which caused damage to eight vehicles.

The £1.35 billion bridge over the Forth was forced to shut for two days last year when ice built up on its cables amid wintry conditions.

Coating the bridge’s cables with a hydrophobic material or installing de-icing systems have been suggested as potential solutions to keep traffic moving on the bridge.

Transport Secretary Michael Matheson updated MSPs on Holyrood’s Rural Economy and Connectivity Committee on Wednesday.

He said the process of diverting traffic to the older Forth Road Bridge if the Queensferry Crossing had to close took around five hours, with the Kincardine Bridge used in between.

Most cable-stayed suspension bridges around the world deal with ice build-ups by putting diversions in place, he said, but research will take place this year on alternative solutions for the Queensferry Crossing.

He said: “The good thing is that the Queensferry Crossing is a much more resilient crossing than the Forth Road Bridge.

“The number of occasions where the Queensferry Crossing has still been operational and open to high-sided vehicles compared to the Forth Road Bridge – it’s night and day, it’s been transformational.”

Discussing the research planned for this year, he said: “It’s looking at the possibility of hydrophobic coating on the cables, it’s also looking at a different type of de-icing system that could potentially be deployed.

“The intention is that some laboratory research will be carried out later this year to test out these options.

“And then potentially, if they indicate they could be helpful, there is a possibility that we may be able to deploy a couple of pilots for next winter.”

Refurbishment work on the Forth Road Bridge means it is now “up to its expected standard”, he said.

The Queensferry Crossing and Forth Road Bridge are maintained by Bear Scotland, which has previously said it wants to find a long-term solution to preventing ice build-ups.

The company is looking into methods of vibrating the cables, ultrasonic de-icing systems and robotics as potential solutions.

Transport Scotland previously explained that there is no option that completely prevents the build up of ice on the bridge but options are being considered by Bear Scotland.

Other factors such as cost, the success of the Forth Road Bridge as a diversion route, frequency of ice events and safety of road users will be considered prior to any installation of ice accretion prevention.

A Transport Scotland spokesman said:“Safety of road users is paramount and our operating company took the decision to close the Queensferry Crossing due to the risk of falling ice on safety grounds.

“During any emergency closure of the Queensferry Crossing a diversion route will be implemented using the Forth Road Bridge or Kincardine Bridge as appropriate dependent on the duration of the closure required. On this occasion due to the forecast short-term duration of the closure, traffic was diverted via Kincardine Bridge in accordance with established procedures.

“Research and development work is underway to explore a method or technology to mitigate the problem of ice build-up on the bridge in the longer term.”