Average cameras to enforce 40mph limit at Forth bridge
AVERAGE speed cameras are to be introduced on five miles of road approaching the Forth Road Bridge.
The devices will enforce a new 40mph speed limit as work begins building roads for the new Forth crossing.
They will be placed for around one mile approaching the bridge from the A90 on the Edinburgh side, the M9 spur and between junctions 1 and 2 on the M9, between Newbridge and Winchburgh.
Work has already begun on installing them, and they are set to come into force in coming weeks and will be in place until the spring of 2013.
A lengthy section of average speed cameras has already been in place for some time on the Fife side of the bridge, prompting complaints from drivers of frustration at driving 30mph below the usual limit straight after the often challenging task of making it across the bridge.
Steven Brown, roads and infrastructure manager for Transport Scotland’s Forth Replacement Crossing employers delivery team, said the measures were necessary to ensure safety.
“This traffic management is an essential part of minimising the FRC project’s construction impact on journey times and public safety,” he said.
“These works are essential for the upgrade of M9 junction 1a, which is vital to the wider FRC scheme.
“The 40mph speed limit and average speed cameras will help ensure a steady flow of traffic and help maintain the safety of the travelling public and contractors working on the site.”
As part of the work the hard shoulders on those roads will be closed and “various traffic management measures” will be brought in at various points.
Although it means cameras will now be both sides of the bridge, they will not be installed on the structure itself, and it is not known if they will feature on the replacement crossing.
Average speed cameras are increasingly popular with authorities because they restrain motorists for a more sustained period than a solitary device, with experts adding compliance is generally high.
The system will be operated by Lothian and Borders Safety Camera Partnership on behalf of Transport Scotland.
Its manager Julie Roy said: “The speed limit has been reduced to 40mph for the safety of all road users and in particular the construction workers.
“It is extremely dangerous for the workers to be alongside fast-moving traffic. Nobody would want to work in a dangerous office so we shouldn’t expect those working outdoors to take risks either.
“Drivers are being asked to be patient, drive with care and observe the speed limit.”
amorris@edinburghnews.com
Comment – Page 18
Email to a friend
Print this page- Alan Pattullo: Dignity, not sanctimony, is required at Parkhead
- 300 jobs at risk as Ryanair axes five Edinburgh routes
- Suzanne Pilley trial: I kissed her goodbye then never saw her again, says would-be lover
- Rangers administration: Craig Whyte’s promise to step aside and hand Rangers over to fans ‘ludicrous’
- David Cameron is playing into the SNP’s hands, says Michael Forsyth
- Scottish independence: Spectre of border controls raised by top Tory
- David Cameron is playing into the SNP’s hands, says Michael Forsyth
- Scottish independence: Alex Salmond hits back at Tory ‘Bourbons’ in battle over devo-max
- Scottish independence: Anti-Scottish jibes boost separation, Michael Gove warns Right
- Scottish independence: Let Scotland vote on independence in 19 months, says Michael Moore
Looking for...
Featured advertisers
Jobs
Search for a job
Motors
Search for a car
Property
Search for a house
Weather for Edinburgh
Thursday 23 February 2012
Today
Light rain
Temperature: 7 C to 14 C
Wind Speed: 26 mph
Wind direction: South west
Tomorrow
Sunny spells
Temperature: 5 C to 10 C
Wind Speed: 29 mph
Wind direction: West
Comments
There are 66 comments to this article
Page 1 of 5
Incandescent
Monday, December 26, 2011 at 03:33 PM#"http:**citycyclingedinburgh.info*bbpress*topic.php?id=4556 (replace asterisks with forward slashes). ---------------" As some of you will know I've been answering this muppets over the top Clarkson-esque comments on the EN and Hootsmon websites over the last day or so. Mainly because the months of anti cyclecar drivers are victims nonsense is really getting up my nose. So please, if you are inclined, feel free to join in as I appear to have started to annoy him (http:www.scotsman.comthe-scotsmantransportcrackdown_on_phone_call_drivers_1_1977896 ) by pointing out every time he bleats that the laws are clear, they are there for the general good, and deliberate criminality is criminality whether it's breaking a speed limit you disagree with or robbing banks because you think they can afford it...---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Of course in real life we know little is black and white, however for the sake of winding up bigots I'm prepared to adopt a relatively extremist position, in the name of a sporting challenge naturally :-)"---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- POSTED 3 WEEKS AGO
Smudge H-S
Friday, December 23, 2011 at 07:49 PMOk, I've seen quite a few during my runs along there, so we'll have to agree to disagree over whether they are sensible. My points remain though that the delay is minimal, the traffic flowing better and anyone daft enough to get done deserves it. Never mind though, it'll be gone in a few years ;-)
Alternative (High Octane) Fuel Head
Thursday, December 22, 2011 at 08:38 PMSmudge, for the umpteenth time, no-one objects to SENSIBLE restrictions and traffic management at the site of works, during the period when they are being carried out. So far this insanity has been in place for several weeks and I have not seen ONE SINGLE road worker along the whole of the section, apart from the Judas who was installing the stupid speed cameras. What they are doing here is un-neccessary, un-warranted and completely stupid and over the top.
Smudge H-S
Thursday, December 1, 2011 at 10:45 PMOk, your whole argument is that you don't think the limit should be there and you should be allowed to drive at 80mph down the motorway because you "drive to the conditions". Well I'll make it simple for you, 1. the works are there and whinging here wont change that fact. 2, regardless of how good you THINK your driving is, the maximum speed you can legally drive at is 70mph, anything over is a wilful criminal act and you deserve whatever punishment you get because you have chosen to break a law you are aware of. 3, The worksspeed restrictions are a result of millions of pounds being spent to make YOUR journeys fastersmoothersafereasier. there is NOTHING anti-car about that, quite the contrary. 4. Enforcing a speed limit is NOT anti car, it is the job of the Police. see point 2, if you CHOOSE to break speed limits then you deserve all the points and fines you get because YOU have CHOSEN to break the law and take that risk. It really is simple, even you should be able to understand, slow down, obey the rules and no-one will take your precious licence away, no-one will fine you, your journey will only take a couple of minutes longer and the chances of you killing someone if you hit them will be reduced. Couldn't get much simpler unless 2 minutes of your time is worth breaking the law and endangering those who choose not to by CREATING a speed differential. Try thinking about someone outside your car for a change instead of your own convenience.
Smudge H-S
Thursday, December 1, 2011 at 10:36 PM"these restrictions will DOUBLE my journey time through that section." Only if you habitually drive 10mph over the speed limit, they will still make a TINY difference to your journey time. "More effort should be made, and more emphasis be put on keeping the traffic flow moving" That is the POINT OF THE WORKS, "managing non-existant risks dreamed up by the health and safety nannies." NO managing the risks which resut in workmen being killed on the motorway every year. "The approach these days is that the traffic flow comes last when all things are considered" Absolute nonsense. "Putting stupid speed cameras up only adds insult to injury." They are not "stupid", they are very effective at slowing down habitual speeders (or criminals to be accurate, we don't get to pick and choose which laws we think suit us!) "That is why I say that these measures are anti-car ", wrong AGAIN, they are anti law breaking. I'm sorry that you feel that your desire to speed on the motorway and save ooh maybe even a WHOLE MINUTE of your apparently critically important time merits endangering those around you and breaking the law. Perhaps if you spent less time complaining and writing nonsense online you could set of a couple of minutes earlier, drive within the limits of the law and arrive where you are going on time and more relaxed (and having used less fuel and therefore paid less of the fuel tax you also like to bang on about).
Alternative (High Octane) Fuel Head
Wednesday, November 30, 2011 at 05:19 PM#60: When the person who considers me to be a nincompoop is complete moron, I'm not really bothered what they think.
Repetitive (Low Intelligence) Car Face
Wednesday, November 30, 2011 at 02:11 PMPerhaps you meant "imitation". Just because something is a SAYING does not make it TRUE. It would be STRANGE to be FLATTERED by the ACTIONS of SOMEONE who CONSIDERS you a NINCOMPOOP.
Alternative (High Octane) Fuel Head
Wednesday, November 30, 2011 at 02:01 PM#58: Immitation is the sincerest form of flattery.
Repetitive (Low Intelligence) Car Face
Wednesday, November 30, 2011 at 12:32 PM"un-thinking numpties obeying it to the letter" QUITE RIGHT. Only NUMPTIES obey LAWS. I clearly remember my driving INSTRUCTOR saying that you are ALLOWED to speed up to the speed limit of a sign in the far distance the MOMENT you are able to see the sign, not only when past it. Or was it the OTHER way round?
Alternative (High Octane) Fuel Head
Wednesday, November 30, 2011 at 12:26 PMSmudge: And you ought to note that these restrictions will DOUBLE my journey time through that section. More effort should be made, and more emphasis be put on keeping the traffic flow moving as opposed to managing non-existant risks dreamed up by the health and safety nannies. The approach these days is that the traffic flow comes last when all things are considered. It used to come, and should still come first. Putting stupid speed cameras up only adds insult to injury. That is why I say that these measures are anti-car.
Alternative (High Octane) Fuel Head
Wednesday, November 30, 2011 at 12:18 PM#53: "Or would you rather it was left as is?" I'd prefer it to remain as it is. I never have a problem with that stretch and I doubt that any competent driver does either. The speed differential to which I refer is caused by the insane 40mph limit, when you get some un-thinking numpties obeying it to the letter and making it their primary focus when they should be concentrating on what is happening around them. There would be no danger to anyone by usnig the procedures they used 20 years ago---ie only put up restrictions adjacent to the works and have the speed limit at 50, not 40. And needlessly blocking off half a motorway is vandalism.
Alternative High Octane FuleHead
Monday, November 28, 2011 at 09:46 PMI have to drive as fast as possible everywhere because it takes my mind off the fact that my penis is tiny.
Repetitive (Low Intelligence) Car Face
Monday, November 28, 2011 at 08:12 PMI am just back from TWO WEEKS with the fairies. Ive knew them since school. Lovely people, we meet up twice a year to discuss transport politics in a SHOUTY and UNBALANCED way. They were firmly of the OPINION that there is no place for LOGIC in newspaper comments, NONSENSE is only method. I can HONESTLY say I have NEVER driven down this so-called m9 spur but agree that if a toad is callerd the M, then the road is MOTORWAY, where it is a CRIME to be reduced to 40MPH.
Smudge H-S
Monday, November 28, 2011 at 05:54 PM#51, incidentally I used to commute that route a few years ago and one of the reasons the works are being done is to REMOVE the area of the existing speed differential to improve safety. Or would you rather it was left as is?!? I'd suggest it is you that is "away with the fairies", try calming down and using a bit of logic and you'll see you're making no sense at all. Calming down might be good advice for when you're driving there as well ;-)
Smudge H-S
Monday, November 28, 2011 at 05:50 PM#51, same old tactics, rant randomly then change the subject when logic rears its unfriendly head. John Prescott?? You're showing your age there, I never listened to him even when he had power and I'm even less likely to listen to busman Begg. It may have escaped your notice but they are not "vandalising" a motorway, "they" are spending millions upgrading it so the likes of you can teara***e down there like fools once it's complete! Money, I have to say, which would probably be better spent improving public transport and getting some of the cars off the road to reduce congestion. So, you were telling me how the roadworks are only being conducted as an "anti-car" device, please do elucidate. Then once you've done that, perhaps you can answer #50's point, why is it soooo important to you to drive at an elevated speed through the area of the works and get where you are going a whole EIGHTEEN SECONDS earlier, in fact, no, that's probably unfair, lets say they stretch around two miles to save moving the camerassignsbollards every day and wasting taxpayers money, are your journeys left so short of time that just over HALF A MINUTE is worth endangering the workmen? Really?
Page 1 of 5
Your view
Please sign in to be able to comment on this story.