Magdaléna Sobotková
FIRTH OF FORTH BRIDGES
THREE BRIDGES – THREE CENTURIES
Magdaléna Sobotková
Photo : Courtesy of Transport Scotland Source : http :// www . forth-bridges . co . uk
1 . GENERAL INTRODUCTION
The Firth of Forth is a dramatic estuary that separates the Scottish capital of Edinburgh from the Kingdom of Fife to the north . The downstream crossings of the Forth at Queensferry are a pair of historic bridges – the famous cantilever rail bridge constructed in the 1880s and the Forth Road Bridge , Britain ’ s first long-span suspension bridge , which was opened in 1964 .
2 . QUEENSFERRY CROSSING - PLANNING AND PROCUREMENT
The Forth Road Bridge has successfully carried road traffic across the Forth estuary since 1964 . The deteriorating condition of the bridge , particularly in relation to the main suspension
cables , and the great difficulty in rehabilitation without massive disruption to traffic , has resulted in the need for a replacement crossing to secure the future of cross-Forth travel .
In 2006 Transport Scotland commissioned the Forth Replacement Crossing Study to determine the optimum solution .
The sensitive location of the crossing necessitated environmental review at an early stage to consider a number of local , national and internationally protected sites . A total of 65 initial options were studied and appraised which led to a selection of five potential corridors , labelled A to E .
1 / 2017