The Third Forth Bridge!

As the new Queensferry Crossing is opened, we speak to some of those involved in this feat of engineering

- Wendy Glass

ON August 30, 2017, the first vehicles will drive across the new Queensferry Crossing – the spectacular third bridge over the Firth of Forth. Constructed under budget and only slightly over time, it is already being hailed as a masterpiece of engineering and perfectly complements its iconic neighbours – the Forth Road Bridge and the Forth Rail Bridge. “Each of these three bridges is a state-of-the-art example of the very best engineering of its time,” says Queensferry Crossing project director David Climie, who started working on the world’s longest three-tower, cable-stayed bridge in 2010. “I feel very proud to have been involved in such a successful project – yet I also feel sad as, now the bridge is complete, the fantastic team which has been working here for so long is about to be broken up.” As the final preparations are made before the Queensferry Crossing opens to motorway traffic – and the Forth Road Bridge becomes restricted to public transport, cycles and pedestrians – David admits there have been “challenges”