The Freight Transport Association (FTA) has asked for assurance from the Transport Minister that the Forth Road Bridge will re-open to all vehicles on 4 January as planned.
The closure is having a serious financial impact on the Association’s members, with one parcel operator reporting additional costs of £11,000 a week for fuel and extra drivers. Christmas is the busiest time of year for the logistics industry and the effect is being felt across all sectors, from food and drink to mail and parcels.
FTA’s Director of Policy Karen Dee has written to Derek Mackay MSP, Minister for Transport and Islands, requesting confirmation that the bridge will be open to all vehicles from 4 January as announced.
Ms Dee said: “FTA very much welcomes the efforts of Transport Scotland in helping to secure relaxations to the Drivers’ Hours rules to ease the pressure, and also with the addition of vans carrying freight to the permitted users of the HGV and bus priority lane on the diversionary routing.
“But what the logistics industry really needs is the bridge open to all traffic – including HGVs – as soon as possible so that the additional costs and uncertainly the industry is currently experiencing can be brought to an end.”
The bridge was closed to traffic from midnight on 3 December after specialist engineers decided a crack in the steelwork needed to be repaired. Vehicles must now make a 50-mile detour via the Kincardine Bridge, which has seen 11-mile tailbacks at busiest times.

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