'Iconic' £4bn bridge for the Forth

Published on Wednesday 19 December 2007 09:47

A NEW bridge will be built across the Forth in Scotland's biggest construction project for a generation, finance minister John Swinney told MSPs today.

The crossing has an estimated cost of between 3.25 billion and 4.22 billion

And Mr Swinney said the bridge – which could open in about nine years time – would become an iconic structure.

A new crossing is required because cables on the existing Forth Road Bridge are corroded, and there is a possibility it may have to close to lorries by 2013 and to all traffic by 2019.

Today Mr Swinney told the Scottish Parliament that action was required to be taken now.

"Doing nothing is not an option," he said.

And he revealed that after considering all the different options – including two different types of tunnels and two different kinds of bridges – the Scottish Government had opted for a cable stayed bridge.

This will have three pylons or towers, with cables running from these supporting the decks of the new bridge.

As well as being the cheapest of the options the government considered, it is also one of the quickest to build, with construction estimated to take some five and a half years.

Mr Swinney told MSPs: "The new Forth crossing is a hugely ambitious project.

"It will be the largest construction project in a generation in Scotland. It will be an iconic structure."

The bridge will run from the northern shore, just west of the existing road bridge, to a point west of South Queensferry.

And Mr Swinney said it would maintain a "fundamental link" across the River Forth while providing better connections to the transport network.

He added: "The Forth Rail Bridge created an image of global significance when it was constructed in the 19th century.

"In the 21st century our vision of a new crossing of equal stature and significance is the government's promise today."

Earlier today, haulage leaders and motoring organisations welcomed the announcement.

Phil Flanders, director of the Road Haulage Association in Scotland, said: "We have always argued for a bridge because it means all freight can use it. If you have a tunnel there would be a problem with dangerous goods and the only way they could do it would be to close the tunnel to allow the dangerous goods to go through.

"Plus the cost factors – it's better to have money to do other things than spend it on a tunnel when a bridge will cost less."

Neil Greig, head of policy in Scotland for the Institute of Advanced Motorists, said today's announcement was an early Christmas present for drivers in the east of Scotland.

He said: "The bridge was probably the best option – it seems to be cheaper, quicker and means HGVs can use the crossing without restrictions. Now we need to get the details of how to fund it and push on.

"This has been a long-running saga, but it's one of the biggest infrastructure projects in Scotland for decades and they have got to get it right."

Edinburgh transport convener Phil Wheeler described a new bridge as the "least worst option".

He said: "It seems to offer the best value for money, but we are still concerned what effect it may have on the traffic flow on the western side of the city.

"I also hope the new bridge will be built in such a way as to allow a light rail or tram on it in due course. Obviously there isn't one to put on it at the moment, but we should make sure the carriageway is wide enough for the future."