Queensferry Crossing Automated Barrier Testing and Commissioning

• Overnight carriageway closures 31 October and 1 November 2023

• Overnight diversion via Forth Road Bridge 4 November 2023

BEAR Scotland is reminding motorists to plan ahead for overnight carriageway closures on the M90 on the nights of Tuesday 31 October and Thursday 1 November.

The closures are to allow testing and commissioning of a new automated barrier system designed to allow M90 traffic to be diverted via the Forth Road Bridge more quickly if the Queensferry Crossing needs to be closed for any reason.

The M90 northbound carriageway will be closed between Scotstoun and Ferrytoll from 22:00 until 05:00 on the night of Tuesday 31 October, with northbound traffic diverted via the A876 Clackmannanshire Bridge.

The southbound carriageway will then be closed between Ferrytoll and Scotstoun from 22:00 until 05:00 on the night of Wednesday 1 November, with southbound traffic diverted via the A876 Clackmannanshire Bridge.

A trial deployment of the barriers will be carried out on the night of Saturday 4 November to ensure they are operating correctly. The Queensferry Crossing will be closed in both directions from 23:00 until 05:00 with all M90 traffic diverted via the Forth Road Bridge. Road users should expect delays at the beginning and end of this period as traffic is stopped while the diversion is implemented and removed.

Further works will be undertaken in 2024 to fully automate the system and install ‘intelligent road studs’, which will light up to guide traffic onto the diversion route.

Chris Tracey, BEAR Scotland South East Unit Bridges Manager said: “Work has progressed well on the project to install the new automated barrier system on either side of the Queensferry Crossing. Overnight carriageway closures are required so that we can test the system and ensure it is working as intended before we carry out a full trial with traffic.

“These barriers are expected to dramatically reduce the time it takes to implement a diversion via the Forth Road Bridge, removing the need for most of the manual work to set up traffic management.”

Road users using the M90 during these works are encouraged to plan ahead before setting out by checking the Traffic Scotland website www.traffic.gov.scot for up-to-date travel information and allowing extra time for their journey.

BEAR Scotland is leading this project as part of its responsibility for the South East Trunk Road Network on behalf of Transport Scotland. John Paul Construction is responsible for the completing the civils works and SPIE is responsible for the installation of the automated barrier system.