MOTORISTS can now cross the Forth Road Bridge without passing through roadworks for the first time since tolls were abolished in February this year.
After it became free to cross, the toll collection facilities had to be removed and a new road layout put in place to allow traffic to flow freely and safely onto the bridge.
The Forth Estuary Transport Authority (FETA), which runs the bridge, al
so took the opportunity to upgrade the infrastructure on either side of the bridge.
Some traffic cones will remain in place on the A90 approach until a new system of signs is fully operational, but the remodeling of the former toll plaza is now complete
There is now a bus priority lane and a dual carriageway standard slip-road onto the A90 from the Echline junction immediately to the south of the bridge. It is hoped that these improvements will reduce delays for public transport and for traffic approaching the bridge from South Queensferry and the A904.
New holding areas have been constructed where the tollbooths once stood. These will be used to hold back abnormal loads and high-sided vehicles that ignore warning signs and arrive at the bridge during strong winds – a facility that was sorely missed during frequent episodes of windy weather earlier this year.
A new bus lane has been constructed between the north end of the bridge and the Welldean junction on the M90. This was built in response to requests from bus drivers and passengers and will make it much easier and safer for buses to stop and then rejoin the flow of accelerating traffic.
FETA convener Tony Martin said: "Thanks to these improvements the infrastructure around the Forth Road Bridge is now better than it ever has been.
"When tolls were abolished we said we were determined to make a success of the new arrangements, and I'm confident that this new road layout will allow traffic to flow as freely and safely as possible across the Forth Road Bridge.
"I'd like to thank users of the bridge and local residents for their patience while this work was carried out. I do appreciate the frustration that roadworks can cause.
"There are no more major roadworks planned this year, so hopefully people will now start to feel the long-term benefits of these improvements."
The full article contains 391 words and appears in Edinburgh Evening News newspaper.
