Winter

BEAR Scotland’s winter team has been working tirelessly these past few months to keep trunk routes in the South East safe and clear, spreading 13,640 tonnes of salt on roads, spraying 530 tonnes of liquid de-icer onto major bridge structures, and clearing an estimated 300 trees during storms. Winter service began in October, when heavy … Continued

M90 traffic to be diverted over Forth Road Bridge on night of 26 March 2022 Trial process aims to avoid need to divert via Kincardine Traffic using the M90 will be diverted over the Forth Road Bridge on the night of Saturday 26 March, in a trial of measures designed to avoid the need to … Continued

New bridge remains open to high-sided vehicles more than 100 times when old bridge may have closed The Queensferry Crossing has remained open in high winds on more than 100 occasions when the Forth Road Bridge is likely to have closed to some or all traffic. The landmark was reached during storms in early February, which … Continued

Cable cleaning found to have beneficial effect More work required to quantify impact Engineers responsible for the Queensferry Crossing have expressed cautious optimism at the results of recent tests of methods to mitigate against ice accreting on the bridge’s cables and towers. Laboratory tests have confirmed that cleaning the cables does have a beneficial effect, … Continued

At BEAR, we have teams dedicated to providing winter service. Watch the video to find out about the process of decision-making when sending out our Winter Fleet to keep routes clear and safe during Winter.

Diversion via Forth Road Bridge on night of Saturday 11 December 2021 Trial aims to speed up process if Queensferry Crossing closes Laboratory tests on ice mitigation methods scheduled Traffic using the M90 will be diverted over the Forth Road Bridge on the night of Saturday 11 December, in a trial of measures designed to … Continued

When eastern Scotland was hit by Storm Arwen on Friday 26 and Saturday 27 November 2021 over 100 operatives from BEAR Scotland and its supply chain worked to deal with the impact on the trunk roads it is responsible for in the North West, North East and South East of Scotland. The first storm of … Continued

The A1 is now closed to all traffic in both directions between Thistly Cross roundabout and Abbotsview Junction, with wind speeds of up to 84mph forecast for this evening where the trunk road bridges over the River Tyne near East Linton. A diversion route is in place via the A199. This is expected to add … Continued

BEAR Scotland is warning road users to expect restrictions on high sided vehicles and a possible full closure of the A1 later today when the strongest winds from Storm Arwen arrive on the east coast of Scotland. The Met Office has issued a Red warning for wind, with gusts of up to 84mph forecast on … Continued

Additional resources in place to address any issues 24/7 control rooms monitoring conditions The first named storm of winter is on its way and BEAR Scotland, which looks after the trunk roads in the North West, North East and South East of Scotland, is primed to tackle whatever weather conditions Storm Arwen brings. Forecasts indicate … Continued

‘Gritallica’, ‘Mr Plow’ and ‘Ready, Spready, Go!’ on hand to tackle adverse weather 180 winter operatives and 58,500 tonnes of salt ready to treat trunk routes across North Scotland   BEAR Scotland and its well-loved team of gritters are geared up and ready to tackle Scotland’s infamous Winter weather as temperatures drop. 94 winter vehicles, … Continued

• 47 winter vehicles, 90 winter operatives and 25,000 tonnes of salt ready to keep trunk roads safe and clear across South East Scotland BEAR Scotland and its well-loved team of gritters are geared up and ready to tackle Scotland’s infamous winter weather as temperatures drop. In South East Scotland over 90 operatives and 25,000 … Continued