“Engineers and specialists are undertaking a detailed inspection this morning, the outcome of which will inform decisions on whether any further restrictions are required”, Arndt said.
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Transport Minister Derek Mackay told BBC Scotland: ‘In light of the latest information and advice, we’ve been recommended to close the Forth Road Bridge.
Extra carriages and staff are being added to services on the Forth rail bridge to and from Fife.
The Forth Road Bridge was initially closed southbound on Tuesday evening after the steelwork problem was identified during a routine inspection.
Timescales could be affected by adverse weather conditions.
However, the bridge was closed completely to traffic yesterday after the structural faults turned out to be more serious than first thought.
“We are aware of the potential economic impact, for strategic traffic in the east of Scotland and on people living in local communities”, said Mackay.
The bridge’s operators tweeted that it was “to allow for essential maintenance”.
Saying that every effort is being made to minimise disruption, Transpoirt Scotland has just issued the following statement on the Forth Road Bridge’s full closure into the New Yeae, 2016. Action now, will mean that any closure is much shorter than it might be if we waited.
“The reason for that is that further traffic could cause further damage, having identified a fault”.
“This situation calls for an immediate review of the capacity and fleet stock on ScotRail so that passengers are not confronted with this kind of chaotic situation in the future”.
Therefore the bridge has to be closed.
“This is a complex engineering challenge”.
‘The results of earlier inspections will continue to be analysed overnight’.
A new bridge – the Queensferry Crossing – is due to open over the Firth of Forth next year, costing the Scottish Government up to £1.4bn.
Early on the morning of Friday, December 4, 11 mile tailbacks were reported approaching the Kincardine Bridge.
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About 70,000 vehicles cross the bridge each week day, and around 24 million every year.
