By Steve Bargeton, political editor

MINISTERS ARE coming under renewed pressure from MSPs to look again at building a second Forth road bridge.

In a Holyrood debate tonight, the Executive will be warned by all the main parties that “doing nothing” is no longer an option.

Last night several MSPs told The Courier that ministers must act soon to plan for a replacement for the existing bridge. Their fears have been fuelled by speculation that the bridge is in a worse condition than has been made public.

A detailed inspection of the main suspension cables has revealed corrosion. MSPs have been told that the bridge would have to be shut to all traffic while work is carried out on the cables.

Dunfermline West Labour MSP Scott Barrie, who has secured tonight’s members’ debate, confirmed that closing the bridge for repairs was a “worst case scenario.” He said, “We are no longer talking about an additional bridge, we are talking about a replacement bridge.

“The current Forth Road Bridge carried 23 million vehicles a year—one million fewer than the two Severn bridges between England and Wales.

“There are very good reasons for a new bridge. We are now hearing about corrosion in the main suspension cables. The bridge would have to close if work has to be done on the cables.”

Mid Scotland and Fife Liberal Democrat MSP Andrew Arbuckle (pictured) has seen extent of the damage. “I visited the bridge two or three weeks ago and saw actual evidence of wear and tear on the main suspension wires and also on the carriageway,” he said.

“There are 11,000 wires that make up the main suspension cable and corrosion has gone beyond just the exterior. I understand that you cannot repair the main suspension wires while the bridge is in use. It was obvious to me that the status quo is simply not an option.

“A replacement bridge would be the biggest civil engineering project that Scotland has tackled and we need to start now.”

SNP Mid Scotland and Fife MSP Bruce Crawford said the decision should be taken out of the hands of the Forth Estuary Transport Authority and put in the hands of ministers. “Ministers must make planning for a new bridge a priority for the new National Transport Authority,” he said. “We need to start planning now. It will take at least 15 years to plan and build a new bridge.

“Who knows what the examination of the cables will unearth—if the bridge has to close tomorrow, where would we be then?”