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Storm round-up: bridge closures spark roads chaos in Fife

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Fife faced significant disruption during Monday’s storm, with the Tay and Forth road bridges both closed to all traffic for a time during the worst of the wind.

The Tay bridge was closed to all traffic from early afternoon and in the evening, as the winds continued to batter the country, the decision was taken to close the Forth road bridge. Countless other roads both major and minor were also closed by fallen trees.

It is thought to have been the first time in three years wind has forced the Forth Estuary Transport Authority to call for the complete closure of the bridge.

With westerly wind speeds at times reaching over 70mph, the bridge was closed, causing major headaches for commuters heading in both directions. Traffic was diverted along the coast to the Kincardine and Clackmannanshire bridges.

The Forth road bridge was reopened to cars only at 8pm and the Tay road bridge at 10.30pm. However, both were still closed to double-decker buses this morning.

Shaken motorists spoke of “utter chaos” on the roads. Trees were ripped from the ground, causing major problems on a number of arterial routes. Incessant rain led to reduced visibility and problems with surface water.

There was drama for those travelling on the A913 between Cupar and Newburgh as a huge tree crashed to the ground close to Dunbog. It completely blocked the carriageway, leading to tailbacks in both directions.

Among those travelling on the road was Keith Foster.

“I was driving to Newburgh when the traffic just came to a standstill,” he said. “It was impossible to see what was going on but lots of people started turning back.

“So many people turned around that I eventually managed to crawl forward far enough to see a huge tree blocking the carriageway. There was absolutely no way anybody was going to get around it.”

The tree had apparently come down shortly after 3pm, and school children travelling on buses from Cupar were among those caught up in the aftermath of the incident.

“It was utter chaos on the road lorries and double-decker buses were having to reverse for hundreds of yards to try to find suitable places to make three-point turns.

“Most people clearly did not know what was going on. A few of us got out of our cars to discuss the situation but it was clear moving the tree would be a major operation and was not going to happen any time soon.”

The route was busier than normal due to the closure of the Tay road bridge, as Dundee-bound travellers had to divert via Perth. The blockage of the A913 meant an even lengthier diversion via the A91 which was itself covered in debris.

“It was really quite scary,” one driver said. “You could feel the force of the wind and the car was moving all over the place. I have never known the conditions to be quite so bad.”

A tree fell on a 4×4 parked at the Postgate in Glenrothes. There was minor damage to the vehicle and the female driver was shocked but otherwise uninjured.

The Q64 Between the Bow of Fife and Sweetholme junction was closed due to fallen trees and the Coal Road, which links Dunfermline’s Pittencrieff Street to Milton Green, was also closed.