Forth Estuary Transport Authority

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The Forth Estuary Transport Authority (FETA) was the authority responsible for the maintenance of the Forth Road Bridge over the Firth of Forth in eastern central Scotland. FETA was created in 2001 by the Transport (Scotland) Act 2001 - to replace the Forth Road Bridge Joint Board.

Contents

Remit

The Forth Estuary Transport Authority was formed in 2001, with a wider remit than the Forth Road Bridge Joint Board it replaced. It was able to fund road and public transport improvements to aide crossing the Firth of Forth, and its new powers permitted it to include the use of routes other than the Forth Road Bridge, such as using the Firth of Forth itself for hovercraft services between Fife and Lothian. [1]

Organisation

The board of FETA had ten members, allocated as follows:

History of significant operations

The Forth Road Bridge underwent a comprehensive structural survey between 2003 and 2005 after suspension bridges of similar design and age in the United States were found to be suffering from corrosion in their main suspension cables. [2] The survey results showed significant corrosion and an accompanying loss in strength of between 8 and 10% in the cables on the Forth Bridge. [3]

The rate of corrosion and weakening of the main cables would have required the bridge to close to HGV traffic some time around 2014 and then close to all traffic by 2019, so plans were drawn up to build a replacement crossing, to run parallel to the existing road bridge between Lothian and Fife. [4] Dehumidification equipment was installed to remove moisture from the inside of the main suspension cables, in an attempt to slow or halt the corrosion, but with no guarantee of success, the Forth Estuary Transport Authority and Scottish Government were left with no option but to plan the construction of a new crossing. [5] [6]

Dehumidification work on the Forth Road Bridge was successful in halting the corrosion of the main cables, so there is now no requirement to close the existing Forth Road Bridge to traffic. [7] [8] The Forth Road Bridge will, as a result, be incorporated into the road network alongside the new bridge, the Queensferry Crossing, and will provide a dedicated public transport crossing, remaining available as a diversionary route in the event the new bridge has to be closed. [9]

Closure

The Scottish Government put out to tender a contract for the operation and maintenance of the existing road bridge and new Queensferry Crossing (the rail bridge remaining under the ownership and control of Network Rail). The successful bidder was Amey plc who would take over maintenance work in 2015. [10] [11]

The Forth Bridges Operating Company (the legal title for the incoming private operator) inherited staff from the Forth Estuary Transport Authority, and transferred over under the Transfer of Undertakings (Protection of Employment) Regulations 2006. [10] The Forth Bridges Operating Company will then be responsible for the maintenance of the Forth Road Bridge, the Queensferry Crossing and the approach roads to the north and south; the M90 from Junction 3, Halbeath, through to Junction 1A, Kirkliston. [10]

The Forth Estuary Transport Authority was disbanded on 31 May 2015. [12]

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References

  1. ↑ "New Forth body will bridge gap, MSPs told". The Scotsman . Johnston Press. 14 February 2002. Retrieved 16 June 2014.
  2. ↑ Sparks, Alan (11 December 2003). "Corrosion fears prompt Forth Road Bridge cable probe". New Civil Engineer . London: Emap International Limited . Retrieved 16 June 2014.
  3. ↑ Kitching, Ruby (19 June 2008). "Corrosion reduces strength of Forth Road Bridge cables by 10%". New Civil Engineer . London: Emap International Limited . Retrieved 16 June 2014.
  4. ↑ "Forth Road Bridge closure warning". BBC News . BBC. 17 November 2005. Retrieved 16 June 2014.
  5. ↑ "Forth bridge dry-out starts 2007". BBC News . BBC. 12 June 2006. Retrieved 16 June 2014.
  6. ↑ "Forth crossing options go public". BBC News . BBC. 20 August 2007. Retrieved 16 June 2014.
  7. ↑ "Forth Road Bridge: Cable corrosion problems 'resolved'". BBC News . BBC. 20 February 2013. Retrieved 16 June 2014.
  8. ↑ Lynch, Declan (28 February 2013). "Dehumidifiers slow Forth Road Bridge cable corrosion". New Civil Engineer . London: Emap International Limited . Retrieved 16 June 2014.
  9. ↑ "£112m to make Forth Road Bridge 'world's most expensive bus lane'". The Scotsman . Edinburgh: Johnston Press. 25 January 2010. Retrieved 16 June 2014.
  10. 1 2 3 "Forth Bridges Special Project". Transport Scotland . Retrieved 16 June 2014.
  11. ↑ McCann, David (20 November 2013). "Three firms vie for £60m Forth bridges contract". Edinburgh Evening News . Johnston Press . Retrieved 16 June 2014.
  12. ↑ "Annual audit report to Treasurer and the Controller of Audit" (PDF). Retrieved 14 August 2023.
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