Forth Bridge Problems

[Prudie]

Can any of you Scottish locals give me the lowdown on how bad the traffic really is at the moment from Edinburgh/Glasgow is a result of the bridge closure? I need to book a work trip for someone that involves landing at either Glasgow or Edinburgh and going to a location in the St Andrews area via a stopover in Stirling. A colleague who works up there has told me it's almost pointless and you need about 8 hours to get from Edinburgh to St Andrews for example. I just want to know if this is an exaggeration? Would you advise the trip, accepting it will be a bit slower than normal?

Any help really appreciated from those who know.

[VHG]

Why not ask on Trip Advisor?

There is already a topic for it.

http://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/ShowTopic-g186485-i107-k9050747-Forth_Road_Bridge_A90_closed_until_the_New_Year-Scotland.html

[SSSid]

Go to:-
http://www.theaa.com/traffic-news/index.jsp
and scroll map to the area.
Looks OK at the moment.

[SSSid]

...Scroll to Kincardine bridge.
That's where the hold up will be.

[Prudie]

Thank you both, I've looked at your suggestions. Obviously it's causing a lot of hassle but still don't know if it warrants cancelling the trip.

[Jackdaw33]

How about flying to Aberdeen then coming down?

[Prudie]

I did wonder about that jackdaw but the flight times from down South are not good (Easyjet from Gatwick is the only real possibility)

[Buenchico]

Is my road atlas different to everyone else's here? Or have people simply ignored the bit about the Stirling stopover?

Glasgow to Stirling (for the stopover) doesn't take you anywhere near to either the Forth Bridge or the Kincardine Bridge. Neither does Stirling to St Andrews. So where's the problem?

Edinburgh to Stirling would only be affected by the bridge problems through additional traffic on the M9 and, possibly, also by traffic queuing back from the M876 onto the M9.

[Prudie]

Well I thought the same as I was looking at the map but the local told me people were going right up to Stirling to avoid the Kinkardine bridge and Stirling was almost impassable. Bottom line this is a business trip and I just want to know if these remarks are a cop out (from the local who would also be involved in the meeting).

[douglas9401]

Fly to Glasgow, drive to Stirling then on to St Andrews at your leisure.
We've got proper roads, electricity, even KFC!
The sky is not falling, it's really just like the M25 on a very quiet day.
The sainted Sturgeon will have it fixed in a jiffy.
If you wanted to go from Edinburgh to St A it might take two hours.

[Dogsbody2]

'sainted sturgeon'

sounds like a dish that should have lemon squeezed over it, before being served up (cold of course)

[mushroom25]

bear in mind the kincardine bridge is not available to cars 05h00 to 20h00 mon-fri - although car derived vans will be permitted from next monday.

[Prudie]

thanks for all inputs. The traveller has chosen to risk going from Edinburgh to Stirling and then on (neither of the bridges are involved). I'll let you know what happens.