Minister denies Queensferry Crossing snagging announcement delay

The southbound lanes will reopen on Wednesday 6 December

Scotland's transport minister has insisted that he only found out resurfacing work was required on the new Queensferry Crossing last week.

Humza Yousaf called the issue "regrettable" but said there had been no delay in announcing the work.

The £1.35bn bridge will be partially closed for five days for the work, starting on Thursday night.

The Scottish government said this would be the only time that lane closures would take place during peak times.

Speaking on BBC Radio's Good Morning Scotland programme, Mr Yousaf denied suggestions that ministers had been aware that so-called "snagging" work would result in the bridge's partial closure as far back as August.

• Bridge to partially close for resurfacing

• Everything you need to know about the Queensferry Crossing

He said: "We have been very up front about the fact that there was finishing works still to be complete - that is on the public record."

However, Mr Yousaf said Transport Scotland officials had been working on a solution to the resurfacing problems affecting the southbound lanes of the Crossing.

'Weather sensitive'

He added: "As ministers we only found this out last week - when they found out about this problem, they tried to get a solution that didn't involve a partial lane closure, that didn't involve the 15 metres of tarmac they're now going to have to strip back.

"They exhausted all avenues. They couldn't find that solution. It's going to now involve partial lane closures for five days over a weekend and therefore they came to us to tell us that and we, of course, were completely up front.

Mr Yousaf said he was told about the resurfacing work last week

"We found out last week and early this week told the committee and of course made that known to the public."

Mr Yousaf had tweeted a few days ago that the next planned milestone for the bridge was the raising of the speed limit to 70mph by the end of the year.

'Damaging public trust'

But when pressed if this timetable would be kept, he said "I won't put a date on it because some of these works are weather sensitive.

"But, yes, the plan is, including with these works taking place, that we will be able to raise the speed limit to 70mph by the end of the year."

During First Minister's Questions at Holyrood, Scottish Conservative leader Ruth Davidson accused the Scottish government of "pushing through" the bridge's opening before it was ready.

She told MSPs: "In September it was 'job done' and pats on the back all round. But on Monday we were told there'd be another five days of work needed, and then yesterday those five days became another 10 months of possible disruption.

Nicola Sturgeon said future lane closures would happen at night if required

"Doesn't the first minister see that it's the dripping out of this kind of information, rather than simply levelling with people, that is damaging the public's trust."

Nicola Sturgeon denied the accusation and insisted that the bridge had opened "when it was right for that to happen".

She added: "She said five days has turned into 10 months, that is completely and utterly inaccurate."

'Sense of perspective'

The first minister acknowledged that there would be further snagging works, but said: "This is the only piece of work that will require daytime and peak time lane closures.

"Other work, if it requires lane closures, will be lane closures during the night time period."

Ms Sturgeon said this was important to the travelling public, but added: "It's also important to keep a sense of perspective."

The Queensferry Crossing will be closed southbound from 22:00 on Thursday until next Wednesday morning, with traffic diverted on to the Forth Road Bridge.

On Wednesday, MSPs were told that the surfacing problems had been caused by a workmanship error.