INCH by inch the giant final section of the Queensferry Crossing was lifted into place over several hours yesterday, completing the new 1.7 mile link between Fife and the Lothians.
There is still a great deal of construction work to be completed before the bridge is opened in May, but the ascension of the final deck section was pinpoint accurate.
Workers could be heard cheering as the 122nd section, weighing the same as two full jumbo jets, slid into place and the Crossing duly became the longest triple tower cable-stayed bridge in the world.
First Minister Nicola Sturgeon tweeted: “Wow! We have a new bridge! Well done to everyone @NewForthBridge who has worked hard to reach this milestone.”
The UK’s tallest bridge is being built at a cost of £1.35 billion, considerably less than earliest estimates of £4bn.
When finished it will be 683ft (207m) above high tide and 50m or 25 per cent higher than the existing Forth Road Bridge.
The bridge deck will carry two lanes of the M90 in each direction and has hard shoulders to ensure that breakdowns, incidents and any maintenance works do not cause severe congestion similar to that experienced on the existing bridge.
Windshielding will protect the Crossing from the effects of wind and provide a more reliable corridor, particularly for heavy goods vehicles.
Keith Brown, the Scottish economy minister, pictured, inset, said: “The completion of the structure with the last deck being lifted into place will mean that you can now walk from Fife through to Edinburgh on the third of three fantastic bridges over the Firth of Forth.
“We get the feedback from people travelling across the existing bridge and many people are waiting for this last element, this last piece of the jigsaw to complete the structure.”
Michael Martin, project director for Forth Crossing Bridge Constructors said: “This final deck lift is the culmination of a world class team effort stretching all the way back to the very first day of construction in 2011.
“The final ‘closure’ is always one of the most significant milestones in any bridge construction programme. On a bridge of this magnificent scale, well, it’s more than a bit special. It is a real pleasure to pay tribute to the skill and dedication of everybody involved and to congratulate them on an outstanding achievement.
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