How Queensferry Crossing critics got it wrong – Steve Cardownie

Norrie Work, the SNP councillor for the Almond Ward which takes in Queensferry, got in touch with me last week to express his frustration over the media reporting of the closure of the Queensferry Crossing due to falling chunks of ice.

He said: “Ice build-up on bridges is a worldwide problem and the Queensferry Crossing is not the only bridge in the world which has had to close due to conditions such as this. It’s very difficult and costly to prevent ice build-up happening. One bridge did find a solution but that meant that workers had to climb the cables breaking off the ice. Clearly not viable in extreme gales and whiteouts.”

He was particularly concerned about the inaccurate reporting of the closure and false claims being aired throughout the media.

He added: “Claims that the bridge would never close, was referring to high winds and so far that is true. No claims were ever made about extreme weather conditions.

“Lots of these claims were repeated in the mass media and even the BBC Scotland news had to start with the comment ‘the bridge designed to never have to close’, which is totally inaccurate.”

Although it looks like a solution has now been found there was no hiding Norrie’s ire and I am happy to give him this opportunity to vent his spleen.