Scotland's Queensferry Crossing Bridge Opens to Traffic
The 1.7-mile bridge across the Firth of Forth is the longest three-tower cable-stayed bridge in the world. Traffic is expected to be heavy Sept. 7.
The new Queensferry Crossing bridge spanning Scotland's Firth of Forth is reopening to traffic Sept. 7 after celebratory pre-opening events took place during the past few days. Traffic management will direct road users onto the new crossing, with a speed limit of 40 mph in place on the approach roads and over the bridge because traffic is expected to be heavy.
"We have seen tremendous levels of interest in the crossing, and we really appreciate people's patience as the new arrangements bed-in," said Inspector Peter Houston of Police Scotland's Roads Policing Unit. "Following last week's successful opening of the Queensferry Crossing, we are supporting Transport Scotland to ensure that the crossing reopens opens in a safe and organized manner on Thursday, September 7. We do expect there to be long delays as people come to see the new bridge over the coming days. We would advise members of the public who currently cross the Firth of Forth as part of their commute to think about disruptions to their journey and to allow for extra travel time as traffic levels adjust. Those who are travelling to the Crossing for non-essential journeys are asked to consider very careful the timings of their visit and whether their journey is necessary."
The Forth Road Bridge remains open to pedestrians and cyclists as work continues to make the final connections to the new network; drivers are being urged to approach with care to familiarize themselves with the road layout.
Traffic Scotland Operator Manager Stein Connelly urged commuting motorists to check Traffic Scotland and @trafficscotland on Twitter for the latest information before they leave, or to visit www.theforthbridges.org.
The website's information about the bridge says it has been the biggest infrastructure project in Scotland for a generation and established a new world record in 2013 by achieving the largest continuous underwater concrete pour: A 24-hour, non-stop operation successfully poured 16,869 cubic meters of concrete into the water-filled south tower caisson.
It features the highest bridge towers in the UK and consists of 122 deck sections, each weight as much as 750 tonnes. About 23,000 miles of cabling are used in it, as well as 35,000 tonnes of steel used in the bridge's superstructure -- the same number of people who voted in the Name the Bridge process.
The principal contractor is Forth Crossing Bridge Constructors, comprising Hochtief (Germany), American Bridge (US), Dragados (Spain), and Morrison (Scotland). It and its subcontractors will clock more than 10 million man-hours in completing the project. The Scottish Government's engineering consultants are Jacobs Arup, which involved more than 1,700 staffers from North America, Asia, Europe, and Australia.