Forth bridge decision 'within weeks'

• New road bridge may be decided upon sooner rather than later

• Fast-tracking of decision means go-ahead could be given by Easter

• Tunnel option looks to have been sunk

Key quote

"We welcome the fact that the Executive has said that any decision on the future of the bridge will be its alone. However, it would be entirely foolish for Tavish Scott and the rest of the Executive to allow themselves to be bounced into having to unnecessarily spend hundreds of millions of taxpayers' money on a new road bridge." - Duncan McLaren, chief executive of Friends of the Earth Scotland

Story in full

A NEW road bridge across the Forth is expected to be approved within weeks following fears there may be no viable solution to corrosion problems on the current structure, The Scotsman can reveal.

Ministers yesterday dramatically fast-tracked the process by announcing a decision in principle would be made by Easter - 16 April.

But The Scotsman has learned that Scottish Executive officials are nearing the conclusion that only another bridge - costing at least 500 million - would ensure the crossing between Edinburgh and Fife remains open.

Ministers have said an independent expert assessment of the state of the bridge, which they will receive next week, would enable them to make a final decision.

But it is understood that the report will confirm that the corrosion is severe.

Ministers now realise that there are no viable options for extending the life of the bridge beyond 2019 without closing it for three years to replace the main cables.

Executive officials have been given an indication of the report's contents and it is this which will give ministers the confidence to decide on a replacement bridge.

The option of repairing the bridge's main cables while traffic continues to cross is now seen as a non-starter. This means the structure would have to close for repairs - a situation that would be unacceptable economically and politically.

The Forth Estuary Transport Authority (FETA), which runs the bridge, has warned that it could take 11 years to complete a new crossing, while the current bridge may have to close permanently in 13 years' time if the corrosion problem is not solved.

Although FETA has stressed that no decision on a new bridge should be made until full studies on all the repair options are completed next year, Tavish Scott, the transport minister, said yesterday: "We will make a decision [on a new bridge] in principle by Easter."

The SNP accused the Executive of doing a U-turn on the issue, which comes days after Alistair Darling, the Scottish Secretary and Westminster Transport Secretary, sparked a political row by calling for a new bridge.

Mr Scott stressed the initial decision would be "in principle" and that all the other issues, including the method of financing, the type of bridge necessary and the toll regime, would be worked out later.

It is understood these final decisions will not be made until next year, after reports on the feasibility of halting the corrosion and/or replacing the main cables are considered.

The 41-year-old crossing is carrying 24 million vehicles a year - twice its design load. A study has shown that whatever else is done to stem traffic growth, such as increased tolls and car-sharing incentives, the equivalent of an extra bridge will be required by 2011 simply to cope with the volume.

Mr Scott said he would expect to see two Forth road bridges in place if a new bridge was built, possibly with limited capacity on the existing structure. "It seems difficult to imagine that we would knock down the existing Forth Road Bridge," he said.

It is believed that if the main cables are found to be replaceable, the work could be done after a new bridge is opened. The Forth Road Bridge would shut during the work, which could cost 100 million, then reopen to help ease congestion.

Mr Scott also took a swipe at Mr Darling and Gordon Brown, the Chancellor, for declaring their support for a new bridge over the last week despite the fact they have no control over the decision and the Executive is still considering it.

Mr Scott, a Lib Dem MSP, made it clear he viewed their interventions as unhelpful party political electioneering in the run-up to next month's Dunfermline and West Fife by-election. He said: "I did not notice too much interest before last week," alluding to the fact that campaigning for the by-election began last week."

The minister was speaking after a Conservative-led debate on the bridge at Holyrood in which he stressed that Scottish ministers would decide on the bridge issue - "and no one else".

Jack McConnell, the First Minister, yesterday repeated that the Executive would rule on FETA's plans to increase tolls at peak hours only once the issue of a new bridge was decided.

Mr McConnell has already vetoed the highest planned charge of 4, and Mr Scott admitted yesterday he had been "astonished" by the scale of the proposals.

A spokeswoman for the Executive said the cost of any new bridge would not affect its other major transport projects, such as trams in Edinburgh and airport rail links, because they were due to be completed before the crossing was built.

Bruce Crawford an SNP MSP for Mid-Scotland and Fife, said: "It is obvious that internal Labour squabbling has given way to all-out panic in the Executive. Today we have seen the Liberal transport minister, Tavish Scott, buckle under the pressure and resort to inventing policy on the hoof."

However, environmental groups warned the Executive against a hasty decision. Duncan McLaren, the chief executive of Friends of the Earth Scotland, said: "We welcome the fact that the Executive has said that any decision on the future of the bridge will be its alone.

"However, it would be entirely foolish for Tavish Scott and the rest of the Executive to allow themselves to be bounced into having to unnecessarily spend hundreds of millions of taxpayers' money on a new road bridge.

"Given the relatively young age of the current bridge, taking all necessary steps to protect the existing structure must become the Executive's priority."

How saga of new crossing has unfolded

October 2004: Inspection of main cables reveals severed wires and corrosion. Forth Estuary Transport Authority orders more extensive checks.

April 2005: FETA agrees to include a second bridge in its local transport strategy to help cope with traffic congestion.

August: Major study backs new crossing after concluding all other options to stem traffic will be exhausted by 2011.

10 November: Scottish ministers launch inquiry after being told corrosion of the main cables is so bad lorries could be banned in 2014.

12 November: The Scotsman reveals bridge will have to close in 2019 if corrosion isn't fixed.

17 November: Jack McConnell, the First Minister, tells MSPs it would be "stupid" to start work on new bridge before extent of the problem is clearer.

25 November: FETA admits replacing main cables could mean bridge being closed for up to three years.

23 January: Alistair Darling, the Scottish Secretary, calls for a new bridge.

26 January: Scottish ministers say they will reach a decision in principle by Easter.

Tunnel under the river a non-starter, says FETA

A FORTH tunnel would cost more and cause greater environmental damage than a new bridge, the operators of the Forth Road Bridge have said.

The option for a tunnel was highlighted by consultants and MSPs yesterday, but the Forth Estuary Transport Authority (FETA) said it was a non-starter.

Roy Pedersen, an Inverness-based economic consultant, said tunnels were widely used in Norway and estimated that one under the Forth could cost just 250 million - half the price of a bridge.

And Fergus Ewing, the SNP's transport spokesman, said it would be "foolish and negligent" not to consider the option.

However, FETA said it had been ruled out when considering a second crossing.

Alastair Andrew, FETA's general manager, said: "We looked at a tunnel but rejected it on cost and environmental grounds." Consultants Faber Maunsell advised FETA that a tunnel could cost up to 800 million, with extra safety measures required in the wake of several fatal tunnel fires in the Alps adding to the total.

The scheme would also require more land than a bridge because the tunnel mouths would be further inland.

Andrew Sloan, of the tunnel experts Donaldson Associates, added: "The Norwegian analogy is not directly applicable. The Forth is completely different."

Nine to fight Fife seat

NINE candidates will stand in the Dunfermline and West Fife by-election, it emerged yesterday.

MEP Catherine Stihler is hoping to retain the seat for Labour, while the Liberal Democrats are fielding Willie Rennie.

The SNP candidate is Douglas Chapman, while Carrie Ruxton is standing for the Conservatives.

Ian Borland is standing as a UKIP candidate and former Labour MP John McAllion is standing for the Scottish Socialist Party.

James Hargreaves is standing for the Scottish Christian Party, Tom Minogue for the Abolish Forth Bridge Tolls Party, and Dick Rodgers is standing for The Common Good.