Scottish haulage firms endure Forth Bridge closures
Date: 19 February 2008
Haulage drivers wishing to carry loads in Scotland had to endure 11 days on which the Forth Road Bridge was closed to them, Commercial Motor reports.
According to figures put out by the Forth Estuary Transport Authority, high winds caused the crossing to be shut to LGVs on 11 different days, meaning that freight drivers had to find alternative routes.
Between April 2006 and March 2007, logistics drivers had to travel 20 miles out of their way for a total of 260 hour.
As the Freight Transport Association points out, these closures affect the profitability of road haulage companies operating in Scotland.
"There's a cost to the industry and to the economy," said FTA head of policy Gavin Scott.
"The problem is, of course, that when the bridge is closed to high-sided vehicles, the alternative bridge gets chock-a-block as well."
Freight operators are also facing the prospect of major disruption on the Forth Bridge in 2009 and 2010, when major repairs will be carried out.
Traffic flow will be reduced to one lane in each direction for eight weeks next year and four weeks they following year, which could cause problems for road haulage companies delivering loads.
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