THE news that the Forth Road Bridge may have a longer life span than had been feared is encouraging. But it should not be taken as a signal that the process of planning a replacement crossing should be slowed or even halted.
Although the rate of corrosion in the bridge's main cables might not be as bad as first thought, the reality is that the true position will not be known until 2011 or 2012 when they are re-inspected. Only then will it be possible to see how effe
ctive the dehumidification process has been and give a more accurate assessment of the life span of the present structure. Until then the work should proceed as planned and as if nothing has happened, with the aim of beginning construction in 2011.
Opponents of the building of a second crossing would doubtless like politicians to sit tight for three years and await the outcome of this further study before more work is done, but the risks involved are too great.
Until proven otherwise, there has to be a presumption that another crossing is required and the preparatory work needs to continue to avoid the situation whereby a new crossing is still needed but three years have been lost and costs have escalated beyond the current estimate of £4 billion.
Should the bridge have to close by around 2019 as was originally forecast – and to freight at an earlier stage – it is unthinkable that there would be no alternative crossing in place at this point on the river.
On the other hand a favourable outcome will only serve to confuse the issue and re-ignite the debate over whether a second crossing is needed.
Certainly if the life span is considerably extended it will be difficult to justify the cost of building another bridge. And it would be very wrong to do so if the primary reason was based on the need to handle growing traffic volumes alone.
A second working bridge would only serve to fuel a further massive expansion of house building in Fife, leading to thousands more people commuting into Edinburgh and adding considerably to congestion in and around the city.
But while the result is uncertain it is in everyone's best interests to proceed as planned. It could be in 2011 that the Government finds itself with considerably more time to play with but until then it would be foolish not to plan for the doomsday scenario of needing to begin construction right away.
In such troubled economic times, no-one should be prepared to gamble with the future of such a vital piece of infrastructure.
The full article contains 450 words and appears in Edinburgh Evening News newspaper.
