Repairs earmarked for the Forth Road Bridge would have resulted in two months of closure chaos, Alex Salmond has claimed.
Writing in his exclusive Courier column, the former First Minister said the work, which would have taken place during his time in office, may not have even fixed the problems which have left many commuters facing lengthy detours and local businesses cut off from much of the country.
The Forth Estuary Transport Authority (Feta) had identified procedures on the area which is now broken. The Scottish Government insists the bridge will reopen early in the new year.
Mr Salmond said: “Of course it would have been possible for the then bridge authority Feta to spend lots of money repairing truss joints years ago. This might have solved this current problem. Of course it might not have done.
“However it certainly would have resulted in at least eight weeks of carriageway closures, causing exactly the same congestion as we are suffering from right now.”
The SNP’s foreign affairs spokesman also has harsh words for the UK Government on its green credentials, branding it “the dog that no longer barks” despite a historic agreement on climate change in Paris.
As if that wasn’t enough, there’s plenty of panto chat to lighten things up. All together now: “Oh yes there is”!
To read Alex Salmond’s column in full, and get the latest in depth news coverage on the Forth Road Bridge closure, pick up a copy of Monday’s Courier or try our online edition.