SCOTTISH Conservative MSP and Times columnist Murdo Fraser has suggested that the recent closure of the Queensferry Crossing must have had a “massive economic impact” on Fife and the rest of Scotland.

The politician, who represents the Mid Scotland and Fife region, also questioned why ice sensors weren’t fitted to the bridge prior to its opening in 2017.

Mr Fraser was reacting to the announcement made last week at the Scottish Parliament, by Transport Minister Michael Matheson, that the sensors would be fitted “in the coming months” and that a five-point plan is being put in place to monitor the condition of the bridge in winter weather.

The two-day closure of the £1.3 billion Queensferry Crossing last week arose after falling ice from the bridge’s cables damaged up to eight cars and led to a political backlash. Vehicles were faced with a 35-mile diversion via the Kincardine Bridge and Mr Fraser has underlined the impact the closure must have had on Scotland’s economy.

Commenting, he said: “The closure of the Queensferry Crossing must have had a massive economic impact on Fife and the rest of Scotland. I’d like the Scottish Government to provide an estimate on what this amounted to.

“A closure like this, on a bridge used by around 80,000 vehicles every day, is bound to have a major economic impact on the likes of the road haulage industry – it basically brought a large area of Scotland to a standstill for two days.”

Mr Fraser added: “It’s all very well for the Transport Minister, Michael Matheson, to come up with a five-point plan now and state that ice sensors will be fitted in coming months – this is something that should have taken place before the bridge was opened.

“I raised this point with Mr Matheson at the Scottish Parliament back in October last year and it’s now clear that nothing was done. We then had the resultant chaos that ensued once the Crossing was closed.”