THE RESURACING work on the Forth Road Bridge, which was suspended for the summer, is due to restart this weekend.

Motorists are being warned by the Forth Estuary Transport Authority, which manages the bridge, to expect lengthy delays.

Contractors worked most weekends between April 13 and the middle of June to resurface and waterproof the northbound carriageway.

The work led to huge tailbacks, with some drivers delayed for more than an hour.

FETA confirmed this week the work is due to restart on Friday evening.

A contraflow will be in use on the southbound carriageway.

A progress report presented to FETA’s board members last week revealed poor weather hampered the work earlier this year and that the contractors were behind schedule.

Rain and wind in May and June caused delays most weekends, with work cancelled altogether on May 18 to 20.

However, bridgemaster Alastair Andrew said the work would continue until it was finished.

“We’ll restart work on September 7 as planned and continue until the job is done, but we’ll need a run of good weather if we’re to finish before the end of October,” he said.

Around 30% fewer vehicles than normal have used the bridge during the roadworks with many drivers heeding FETA’s advice to pick an alternative route.

At their worst, the queues on the north side of the bridge stretched several miles back to Halbeath on the eastern outskirts of Dunfermline.

* Motorists are also being warned to expect delays as £2.5 million maintenance works restart on the A9 south of Perth.

Roadworks on the stretch between the A823 Gleneagles junction and the A824 Aberuthven junction are due to recommence today.

The works comprise phase two of “essential carriageway repairs” which started last month.

Phase one was suspended last Tuesday to avoid any clash with the Johnnie Walker golf tournament, hosted at Gleneagles.

A galaxy of sporting stars descended on Perthshire for the event and trunk road operators BEAR Scotland thought it best to ensure heavier than normal traffic volumes could flow as smoothly as possible.

A spokesman for the firm said a number of diversions and restrictions will be put in place.

The works are due to be completed on Wednesday, October 3.

“A contra-flow will be in place for this second phase of the works to allow the reconstruction of the carriageway,” the spokesman remarked.

“A 50mph temporary speed restriction will be in place until the completion of the improvements.”

The A824 Auchterarder junction will be closed while works are ongoing, although an exception is to be made for vehicles accessing the A9 northbound carriageway.

Traffic will be diverted via the A823 Gleneagles junction.

The works are set to be carried out by Tarmac Ltd on behalf of Transport Scotland and BEAR Scotland will supervise the scheme.

The spokesman insisted that efforts would be made to keep delays to a minimum, but warned there would inevitably be some disruption.

“The nature of the works means that delays are expected at peak times,” he said. “Every effort will be made to minimise disruption to road users.

“Drivers are asked to plan their journeys accordingly, follow diversions and observe speed reductions.

“The works have been planned in consultation with the police and local authorities,” the spokesman added.

A section of carriageway north of the works, from the Aberuthven junction to the River Earn, was resurfaced a year ago, causing lengthy delays at peak times.

The resurfacing works represent one of two major schemes currently taking place on the A9, the other—works to create a new junction at the notorious Ballinluig accident black spot north of Perth started in July.