| Launching his petition to the Scottish Parliament, Mark Hood, from Lochgelly, claimed a new crossing was vital. He is urging the Scottish Executive to start the planning process now and make the project a priority.
Mr Hood was backed this morning by Helen Eadie, Labour MSP for Dunfermline East.
Campaigners fear rising traffic levels and the deteriorating condition of the existing bridge will cause chaos in several years time.
Alastair Andrew, the bridge’s general manager, has warned it would have to close completely unless corrosion in the main cables can be checked.
Mr Hood said, “For the foreseeable future we will need a Forth Road Bridge capable of carrying a high volume of car traffic. The Executive must make a new bridge a priority.
“More commuters would use public transport if they were able to, but despite massive investment over the last few years, public transport is still not adequate to meet the needs of many commuters.
“Rail services are often poor and even the recent improvements in the bus service do not serve the needs of the many shift workers who commute between Edinburgh and Fife.”
His petition urges the Executive to consider the need for a new bridge as a priority. It is believed a new crossing could cost in the region of £700 million.
Environmental campaigners have rejected the idea, saying it would undermine efforts to tackle congestion and cut climate pollution.
However, Mrs Eadie insisted any delay could spell disaster. “There is an urgent need to press ahead with plans for a new bridge,” she said. ”The existing bridge (which opened in 1964) took 20 years from design to opening.
“Scotland and Fife may not have 20 more years to build a replacement.” |
