Plans unveiled to celebrate 50th anniversary of Forth Road Bridge

FORTH Road Bridge officials have unveiled plans to celebrate the crossing’s 50th birthday in 2014 as they vowed to avoid a repeat of its disastrous 25th anniversary event.

• 2014 people to be given chance to climb to top of main towers next year to celebrate 50th anniversary of bridge

• Events could include a fireworks display and parade accompanied by boats, aircrafts and steam trains on the adjacent railway bridge

• Officials vow to avoid repeat of ‘disastrous’ 25th anniversary event which included ‘spectacular’ laser display that was largely invisible to thousands of spectators

A total of 2,014 people will be given the chance to climb to the top of the bridge’s main towers, while there will also be a fireworks display and a parade across the bridge that could be accompanied by boats, aircraft, and steam trains on the adjacent Forth Bridge to celebrate transport around the river.

The events would coincide with a second Year of Homecoming planned by the Scottish Government, and launch a three-year bridges celebration, comprising the Forth Bridge’s 125th anniversary in 2015 and the Forth Replacement Crossing due to open the following year.

The main event to celebrate the Forth Road Bridge’s 25th birthday in 1989 was branded a massive flop after a so-called “spectacular” laser display on the bridge was barely visible to thousands of spectators.

A spokesman for the bridge said of the September 2014 events: “In preparing these proposals, officers have studied and learnt from previous bridge celebrations, including the Forth Road Bridge’s 25th anniversary in 1989.”