Wind‐Induced Lateral Response of the Queensferry Crossing: Insights from Long‐Term SHM Data

Abstract A Structural Health Monitoring System was installed on the Queensferry Crossing cable‐stayed bridge during its construction in 2017, providing both real‐time and long‐term data essential for understanding the bridge's behaviour under environmental and operational loads. This paper presents an analysis of four years of high‐quality Global Navigation Satellite System and anemometer data to investigate the lateral response of the bridge deck to wind action. Original methodologies were developed to isolate the normal component of wind speed and the lateral displacement of the deck, effectively eliminating confounding variables such as traffic and rotational effects. Results demonstrate a consistent positive quadratic trend in the lateral response to wind loading. Comparative analysis with the adjacent Forth Road Bridge reveals that, for equivalent wind speeds, the Queensferry Crossing exhibits significantly lower lateral displacements, attributed to its aerodynamic deck design. These findings highlight the value of long‐term SHM data in providing actionable insights for bridge safety, serviceability, and design, and underscore the importance of continued monitoring to address gaps in understanding the dynamic response of flexible, long‐span bridges to non‐stationary wind events.