Forth road bridge

Yes there are a couple of other bridges but they add miles to the journey and there were 11 mile tailbacks on one this morning. DD in Edinburgh says they're muttering about reinstating the ferry if only temporarily.
Not good

And Storm Desmond won't make things any easier...

Yes, ninathenana, they may reinstate the ferry - possibly from Rosyth to Granton? It would need to be a roll-on/roll-off, though.
So much chaos though, and of course the high winds are causing havoc for the men working on the problem.
Trains are full to bursting and rolling stock can't be supplied at the drop of a hat. Yesterday traffic wardens were having a field-day, ticketing cars that were parked outwith the bays etc at one of the stations near to the bridge. However, that has now been relaxed a bit, thankfully.
Hauliers will suffer tremendously, obviously. I'm in Fife and am planning to go down to Edinburgh on the train on Tuesday and Thursday. Tuesday to the Christmas Market and Thursday to see the Scottish Ballet. I think it'll be much easier to get there than to get back.... .

I remember going on the ferry in 1956, at Queensferry. My uncle took his car on, but it was a very simple, basic ferry. Reinstating the ferry would help a little, wouldn`t it?

It is a really serious situation (more serious than is being reported in the national news) especially for commuters and the haulier trade. The Bridge is a lifeline for everything north and east. People are leaving home at 5 am and not arriving at their destinations across the Forth for up to 5 hours, having driven in completely the opposite direction in order to get south and sat in jams for 12 miles - and this will continue way past the New Year especially if this bad weather continues. The local trains only have 2 carriages although Scotrail are endeavouring to get more rolling stock on the line. I fear small businesses in particular will suffer. I have to get to the airport soon and will either have to squish onto a crowded train into Edinburgh with a big suitcase and then get a bus/taxi out to the airport, or drive for an extra hour, probably in a queue, and park at the airport, instead of hopping on a bus for 20 minutes. As for the ferry idea - I wonder from whence they will acquire such a thing! It's not as if ferries sit around waiting to be hired and then extra bus routes will have to be organised - and knowing the LA's ability to 'organise' that could take weeks . Unless the cracks were a sudden, catastrophic event, I fear heads will roll at Bridge Headquarters........

The report I read today said that traffic had at first been restricted but then it was decided that the safest thing was to close the bridge. How long were the initial restrictions in place ?

Less than 2 days, then 'closed for 24 hours', then yesterday morning 'closed until the New Year'. I would be more than surprised if it was operational by then....

I hate to be the harbinger of doom but when bridges close in London due to faults they are closed for months, sometimes years!

I hope the cracks aren't too serious - expect they'll have to make an inspection of the whole bridge which will take some time as it's huge.

I live in Fife and have to get to Edinburgh Airport next week and we are leaving home at 4am for an 11am flight journey usually takes about 45minutes when driving over the Bridge but how long taking the diversion we don't know!!

Largolass, maybe safer to travel the day before?

I saw a TV programme over a year ago about the wires which make up the supporting cables "popping" due to corrosion and it was said then that the bridge's days were numbered. Presumably the vast increase in freight haulage /heavy lorries was unexpected (?) However there are plans for a new bridge but I also think that its capacity is designed with the two bridges being in use.
There must be some at Bridge HQ or the Dept of Transport as this is frankly shambolic.

They are in the process of building a new bridge, the structure can be seen in the news photos.
I have photos dad took when we visited my aunt in the '60s of the current bridge half built. Or am I confused with the rail bridge ?

I live in Fife, too. The new bridge is ahead of schedule, but still won't be ready until end of next year, I believe. Escorted emergency vehicles only, are being allowed over the road bridge - which is a relief.
I have a friend who needs to be at a hospital in Edinburgh by 7.30 on Tuesday, for an operation. To go round by Kincardine, in the immensely heavy traffic, is going to be a nightmare.
I had 2 trips to Edinburgh planned for next week - one to the Christmas Market and the other to see the Scottish Ballet.....however, my small disappointments are nothing compared to the inconveniences for others at the moment.

Nina the Road Bridge was opened in 1964, so that's the one you'll have seen half-built.

I cannot see this being repaired very quickly. They don't even know the real extent of the problem.

I know someone who was 3 hours late for work in Edinburgh on Friday absolutely chaotic.

West Lothian Council website and the Edinburgh Evening News both had articles on alternative routes. Unfortunately I do not have the links so could not put these here. You can google and do a search.
Yes, it is very serious. I would also add if you are ordering from Amazon for Christmas, one of the warehouses is situated in Dunfemline, so if you have something you desperately need or want - ORDER IT NOW. Especially if you are situated in Scotland/North of England way.
This will have a knock-on effect for everything, not least the poor souls who have to commute to work.
Regarding the ferry idea, they would need to have heaven knows how many,the mind boggles.

Thanks Marelli my aunt actually lived in Peebles but we went to the city for the day.