IT COULD cost over £2 million to control traffic on the southern approaches to the Forth Road Bridge once the tolls are removed.

Bridgemaster Alastair Andrew told members of the Forth Estuary Transport Authority (FETA) a new set of signs would need to be installed along the A90 and on the new link road to the M9.

The £5 million toll plaza could also be completely demolished and traffic lights or overhead gantries installed at South Queensferry.

Mr Andrew and his engineers have been examining how best to manage vehicles as they converge on the bridge.

The Scottish Executive announcement that tolls would be scrapped by the end of December has left FETA with the headache of controlling the thousands of vehicles crossing the bridge each day.

Until now the authority has been able to use the toll barriers to stop traffic.

Five lanes, including three from the redesigned A90 and two from Echline, would have to filter into the two lanes on the bridge, although Mr Andrew has insisted there is no way FETA could contemplate allowing that to happen.

He said current thinking was to ensure traffic was in two lanes by the time it passed under the new M9 spur flyover.

This will require new signs and either traffic lights or overhead gantries. The canopy at the toll plaza could also be retained and used as an overhead message gantry.

He added that if overhead gantries were needed, the project would cost in the region of £2 million, plus a further £200,000 to demolish the canopy.

“The most significant unknown element was the determination of the traffic control mechanism to be used, such as advanced electronic signing carried on a series of overhead gantries or simpler traffic lights,” he said.

“Discussions with the Executive on this issue are continuing. We are fairly confident that without the overhead gantries we can deliver the project for just under £1.5 million,” he told the board.

He said much of the work would be carried out before December.

However, the toll plaza cannot be removed until after tolling has ceased.

Fife councillor Ian Chisholm said he could not understand why FETA had to spend money controlling the traffic.

“Fundamentally the bridge is two lanes going north and two lanes going south,” he said.

“I can’t see why we need this additional expense to do this job,” he added.

Councillor Mike Rumney replied, “At the south side of the Forth Road Bridge we have got five lanes merging into two. Do we remove everything and allow the public to have a free for all?

“That would result in accidents which would lead to the complete closure of the bridge.

“Friarton Bridge is completely different, and southbound traffic heading over the Forth Road Bridge is completely different.”

Mr Andrew’s report was noted.

* Labour MSP Claire Baker said yesterday that Executive ministers must provide leadership over the issue of tolls on a new Forth crossing.

Earlier this month the Labour MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife wrote to Stewart Stevenson, the minister responsible for the new Forth crossing, to ask for clarification about tolls being imposed on travellers.

Ms Baker asked on what basis the decision to toll will be made, if any proposed tolls would be permanent or time-limited to cover the cost of the project, and whether a decision on tolling will be influenced by the cost of the chosen option.

She received a two line response from Transport Scotland, Scotland’s road and rail agency, stating, “a reply will be sent as soon as possible.”

“I do understand there’s a role for Transport Scotland to advise ministers on these issues. However, it must be for the minister to be clear over what the SNP has planned in terms of tolling once we have a new crossing,” she said.

“How can the public comment on proposals for a new crossing without knowing how the crossing will be paid for, or whether it will be tolled?

“This is a matter that requires political leadership to ensure that we have fairness on this issue.”

She added, “Considering the SNP were so vocal about removing tolls on the current Forth road bridge, I’m disappointed that they have remained so quiet about whether they have plans to toll the new crossing.

“I think it’s important to hear what the ministers’ views are, and I will be pursuing this when parliament returns.

“This is not an issue on which ministers can duck responsibility—we have to hear the Executive’s views on this at the earliest opportunity.”