In the early hours of Sunday 9 November, BEAR Scotland carried out a successful practice deployment of the automated diversion system on either side of the Queensferry Crossing, to ensure all elements are in operation in advance of winter. The diversion was opened within 19 minutes, without the need for police intervention to stop traffic.

It should be noted that this practice deployment was carried out during a pre-planned and pre-mobilised operation in good weather. In an emergency situation the implementation of the diversion is likely to take longer, however our planning, training and use of technology will reduce this timescale to an absolute minimum.

BEAR has also continued to work closely with weather forecasters to refine and optimise the systems that predict the possibility of ice accretion on the bridge, meaning we are better prepared than ever to respond and mitigate the impact if and when it occurs again.