Forth Replacement Crossing
Queensferry Crossing | |||
The bridge under construction in 2014 | |||
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From: | Dunfermline | ||
To: | Kirkliston | ||
County | |||
Fife • West Lothian | |||
Highway Authority | |||
Transport Scotland | |||
Opening Date | |||
30th August 2017 | |||
Cost | |||
£1.35bn | |||
Additional Information | |||
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On road(s) | |||
M90 | |||
The Forth Replacement Crossing is the replacement for the older Forth Road Bridge which opened in 1964. It is a cable-stayed bridge. It was announced in December 2007. The project consists of 3 main components: the Fife ITS Contract, the M9 Junction 1A Contract and the Primary Contract. On the 26th of June 2013, after a public vote, the name Queensferry Crossing was chosen for the under construction bridge.
Fife ITS Contract
The Fife ITS Contract was completed in December 2012 and consisted of:
- Intelligent Transport System (ITS) with variable mandatory speed limits
- New overhead gantries and signs
- Hard shoulder bus lane
This is the first time that variable mandatory speed limits have been used in Scotland. The speed limits are indicated on lane specific signs on the new gantries and are enforced by speed cameras. Only the southbound hard shoulder has been upgraded for use as a bus lane, since this allows buses to circumvent the usual queues of traffic at the morning "rush hour" as traffic heads for the Forth Road Bridge. The use of the hard shoulder as a bus lane at this location may be discontinued once the new bridge opens to traffic in 2016.
M90 Intelligent Transport System video
M9 Junction 1A Contract
The M9 Junction 1A upgrade was fully opened to traffic in February 2013 and consists of:
- ITS with variable mandatory speed limits
- New west-facing slip roads (previously only east-facing slip roads were present)
- One extra lane on the east facing slip roads
- Hard shoulder bus lane eastbound from the M9 Spur towards the Newbridge Roundabout
(M9 Junction 1A is also known as Kirkliston Interchange).
Primary Contract
The Primary Contract is due to be completed in Winter 2016 and consists of:
- ITS with variable mandatory speed limits
- Cable-stayed bridge across the Firth of Forth upstream of existing Forth Road Bridge
- Connecting roads south of the Forth, tying in to existing network at Scotstoun Junction
- Connecting roads north of the Forth, tying in to existing network at Ferrytoll Junction
Once the Primary Contract is complete there will be 22km of motorway managed using ITS from Halbeath Junction in the north to Kirkliston Interchange to the south.
Most of the connecting roads are being constructed "off line" which helps minimise disruption to traffic on existing roads. A section of the B981 from North Queensferry to Ferrytoll Junction is also being redirected around the Dunfermline Waste Water Treatment Works to accommodate a new embankment for the bridge's north approach. The new section of B981 opened around March/April 2014.
It was announced on 6th August 2014 that the project was now halfway through, with all three towers at road deck level and substantial progress made on the southern approaches. These should be completed in mid-late 2015 to allow the construction equipment to be moved to the shorter north approaches. The project is apparently still on schedule for completion in winter 2016, and currently running under budget.
Specification and Contractors
At 1.7 miles long it was the longest three-tower, cable-stayed bridge in the world. Contractor was a Dragados, Hochtief, American Bridge International and Galliford Try joint venture. Cost was £1.35 billion, £245 million below budget.
Opening
The bridge was officially opened on 4 September 2017 by Queen Elizabeth II. It had opened to traffic on 30 August 2017 prior to closing on 2 - 3 September 2017 for the Forth Crossing Experience walk, and 5 September 2017 for a "community day". It re-opened to traffic on 6 September 2017 with no pedestrian access.
The motorway section opened was from J1A Queensferry Junction to J1B Ferrytoll Junction, with an upgrade north to J1C Admiralty Junction
Links
legislation.gov.uk
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