"This really could not happen at a worse time of year. And it's going to have an impact on everybody."

A warning from Chris MacRae, the freight transport association's head of policy in Scotland, who gave his thoughts on the Forth Road Bridge closure to BBC Radio Scotland's Newsdrive programme.

He added: "It will also have a knock-on effect in the rest of the UK. No time of year would be good for this to happen, obviously, but to happen in the run-up to Christmas - that's going to be particularly challenging." 

He warned it would be "impossible" in some cases to make deliveries in the normal time frame, and warned consumers to be prepared for delays and additional costs.

BBC Scotland Travel

The closure of the Forth Road Bridge means the Kincardine and Clackmannanshire bridges are very busy.

The diversion around the M9, M876, the A985 and the Kincardine Bridge is lengthy and also very, very busy.

The Clackmannanshire Bridge is very slow in both directions. The A876 north approach road is still closed to ease congestion, which is making the Toll Road very slow.

Mary Taxi has just called to warn that the M9 at J10 Craigforth is moving at around 10mph southbound.

Transport Minister Derek Mackay also told BBC Scotland's Newsdrive programme: "The advice that we have been given is that if we make the necessary repair, then that will resolve the issue.

"Of course there will be further inspections - safety will not be compromised. "But we do believe that if we carry out the repair work then the bridge should be operational by the new year." 

Transport Minister Derek Mackay has said the three-week window for repairing the bridge was "weather dependent". 

Mr Mackay told Radio Scotland's Newsdrive programme that the high winds made for "challenging circumstances".

Closing the bridge was unavoidable as running traffic over it "would make matters worse", the minister added. 

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Garry Clark, head of policy and public affairs at the Scottish Chambers of Commerce, told Radio Scotland's Newsdrive programme that the closure of the Forth Road Bridge could potentially be "very damaging" to Scottish business. 

He said the diversion will add "considerably" to journey times, and that this would "have an impact on how we do business throughout Scotland - not just the east coast".

Image source, Getty Images

Rob Shorthouse, ScotRail communications director, said the train operator could "not cope" if drivers and passengers in the 70,000 vehicles which use the Forth Road Bridge each day use the train instead. 

He said there "simply wasn't the capacity".

But, he said, ScotRail were working to strengthen their services where possible. 

Teams had worked through the night to increase capacity on 25% of the trains running between Fife and Edinburgh, said Mr Shorthouse.   

Margaret Stewart, who works in a bakery in Kincardine, Fife, told BBC Radio Scotland's Newsdrive programme that business has suffered today as a result of the Forth Road Bridge closure.

She said: "If people are running an hour and a half to two hours late, they’re not going to stop and come in for rolls on sausage.

"It’s definitely quieter - the closure is bound to hit here."

BBC Scotland Travel

Long queues are likely on many roads tonight. The diversion route - via the M9, M876, the A985 and the Kincardine Bridge - is around 50 miles long, and it's already very busy. 

The nearby Clackmannanshire Bridge is very slow in both directions. The A876 north approach road is still closed and traffic is being diverted via the Toll Road, which is very slow. The south approach road is also very slow. 

Surrounding roads including the A977 and the A985 are very slow. In Falkirk, the M9 has delays northbound especially between J4 Lathallan and 6 Earlsgate. 

In Stirling, we're also getting reports of busier than usual traffic on the A91 at the Millhall Roundabout and the southbound A9 at Dunblane.

Mack West, chairman of the Institution of Civil Engineers, told Radio Scotland's Newsdrive programme that there is a possibility cars won't be allowed to use the Forth Road Bridge in the future.

He said: “I think there’s a possibility that there will be restrictions on the existing bridge and it’s likely that there may be restricted to public transport usage and cycling.”

Garry Clark, from the Scottish Chambers of Commerce, has outlined how the closure of the Forth Road Bridge until the New Year and the resultant impact "serves to underline the fragility of Scotland's transport network".

Mr Clark added: "Scotland's bridges are major infrastructure pinch points and whenever these are disrupted due to engineering or road works, the result is often severe.

"This is as true for the likes of the Erskine or Kessock bridges as it is for the Forth Road Bridge.

"These events remind us just how essential the construction of the Queensferry Crossing is to provide resilience in cross-Forth travel.

"The priority now must be to implement a deliverable travel plan to mitigate at least some of the inevitable disruption that is now occurring.

"The cost to business will be huge in terms of higher transport costs, reduced productivity and restricted access to customers."

Police are urging people to consider their travel plans across eastern Scotland following the closure of the Forth Road Bridge.

Police Scotland’s Assistant Chief Constable Malcolm Graham said: “Road Policing Officers are working closely with traffic management partners to monitor the road network in Fife, Forth Valley, Edinburgh and the Lothians, to ensure travel disruption is minimised whilst the essential repairs take place. They are on patrol on key routes to help clear any traffic incidents which do occur and keep people moving.

“I would urge all drivers to consider if your journey is necessary, and to consider other options like public transport. Please check the conditions before you set off and leave extra time if you must travel.

“The closure of the bridge does not affect our ability to respond to emergency calls, and officers will continue to answer 999 calls and carry out our daily tasks as normal.”

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The Scottish Secretary David Mundell said the UK government was ready to assist.

He said: “The closure of the Forth Road Bridge until the new year is a very serious development, which will have a major impact not just on local communities and travellers but on the wider Scottish economy.

"I met today with Fife Council and we discussed the impact the closure will have on the local area.

“While this is a devolved responsibility of the Scottish government and they now have the task of ensuring that all possible measures are taken to minimise the disruption during the bridge closure, the UK government stands ready to assist in any practical way we can."

The unprecedented closure has shut down the most direct route for vehicles travelling from Edinburgh to and from Fife and beyond.

NHS Fife has set up a hospital control team, which will meet twice a day, to monitor any impact of the closure on its services.

"Any potential effect on patients and staff is currently being assessed and we are exploring the provision of accommodation and transport, where necessary, to ensure we continue to provide high-quality care," the health board said.

Image source, PA