Preparations begin for new £4.2bn bridge

Published on Wednesday 13 February 2008 09:11

WORK to pave the way for a new £4.2 billion Forth bridge was set to start today.

Research into who owns the land which may be needed for the crossing at Queensferry is the first part of the project, which is expected to take eight years to complete.

Representatives from Arup-Jacob, the engineering consultants behind the preparation work, will conduct land surveys in the area surrounding the new road bridge to establish the ownership and boundaries of land that may be required.

Transport Minister Stewart Stevenson said the Scottish Government must "act quickly" to progress the new crossing because corrosion of the Forth Road Bridge's cables made its future uncertain.

The bridge may have to close to lorries in five years, and to all traffic in 2019.

Mr Stevenson said: "It is important we act quickly to protect the crucial economic link of cross-Forth travel by progressing this replacement crossing."