2000 nuts to be replaced in cracked Forth Road Bridge

ALMOST 2000 nuts are to be replaced on the Forth Road Bridge after cracks were found during a routine inspection.

Bridge bosses have ordered an investigation after nine nuts used to secure bands to the structure's main cables proved to be faulty.

Four of the failed nuts have already been replaced, using access platforms already in place. The remaining five will be replaced in the course of the year.

Bridgemaster and chief engineer Barry Colford said: "Thanks to the vigilance of our inspection team this problem was identified at an early stage and the bridge remains perfectly safe. Cracks have been found in only nine out of 1888 similar nuts.

"Nevertheless, our investigation has concluded that any of these nuts could potentially fail in future, so the recommendation is to replace them all as a precaution."

A spokesman for FETA said the work would be carried out over the next few years and would cost an estimated £630,000.