Queensferry Crossing bridge reaches ‘milestone’

WORK has begun to lift the deck of the new Queensferry Crossing into place and fill in the gaps between its three 200-metre-high towers.

Infrastructure Secretary Keith Brown said the positioning of the first 800-tonne section of deck across the Forth rounds off “a momentous week” for public building projects in Scotland.

“The Borders Railway opened, A9 dualling began and the Queensferry Crossing reached another important milestone,” he said.

“The opening of the Borders Railway not only provided a party for people to remember but many more opportunities for work, leisure, study and investment and business in the area and the wider Scottish economy.

“Construction work also began on the £3 billion project to upgrade 80 miles of the A9 between Perth and Inverness.

“This project will be one of the largest and most challenging infrastructure projects in Scotland’s history.”

He added: “When the programme is complete, it will have enormous economic and social benefits for communities along the length of the road, and beyond.

“On the Queensferry Crossing, deck lifting began in earnest and will see the filling of the gaps between the bridge’s towers.

“This is the start of some spectacular engineering, and as work progresses with further sections of deck lifted and cables attached it will become even more of a remarkable sight.”

Brown will today announce details of multi-million pound sub-contracts awarded as part of the M8, M73 and M74 Motorway Improvements Project.

Brown will view progress on a new M8 section near the existing A8 at Bargeddie in North Lanarkshire.