Forth Road bridge closed after lorry blown over amid high winds

THE Forth Road Bridge has been closed again after a lorry was blown over in high winds.

The vehicle was blown on to its side on the northbound carriageway of the bridge at about 2.45pm on Tuesday.

Both sides have now been closed while the lorry is recovered.

We've now closed the bridge in both directions until we can be sure the trailer will not blow onto the southbound carriageway

— Forth Road Bridge (@forthroadbridge) March 14, 2017

Operators tweeted: “We’ve now closed the bridge in both directions until we can be sure the trailer will not blow onto the southbound carriageway.

“Our team is on site assessing the situation – we’ll get the lorry removed as soon as it is safe to do so.”

The bridge was closed to high-sided vehicles due to high winds at 11.20am.

A Twitter message read: “High winds – Bridge closed to high-sided vehicles, cars with trailers, caravans, motorcycles, bicycles & pedestrians.”

In January a lorry driver was charged after his vehicle was blown over on the bridge, leading to almost a full day of closure for recovery and repairs.

Police said signs closing the bridge to high-sided vehicles were in place at the time.

The route is expected to be closed “for some time” while the lorry is recovered.

A Police Scotland spokesman said: “Police in Fife are in attendance on the Forth Road Bridge after a high-sided vehicle overturned on the northbound carriageway.

“The incident happened around 14.50pm on Tuesday March 14.

“As a result, the bridge is closed in both directions and will be for some time to allow recovery of the vehicle.

“Warning signs were in place prohibiting high-sided vehicles from crossing the bridge due to high winds. Inquiries are ongoing into the full circumstances.

“Police are advising motorists to avoid the bridge and find an alternative route.”