A better, stiffer bridge

The new Forth replacement crossing will have a unique advantage to the current road bridge. Stiffness.

This is just one of the many facts that have been revealed at the update meeting in the project’s Contact and Education Centre, in South Queensferry.

The presentation also included updates on the Queensferry junction and what roadworks are still to take place.

About 30 people appeared at the meeting to view presentations from Lawrence Shackman, the project manager for Transport Scotland, and Ewen Mcdonnell, the community liaison manager from Forth Crossing Bridge Constructors (FCBC).

Mr Mcdonnell said, "This bridge will be a lot stiffer.

"The winds we had of 103mph not too long ago showed that the Forth Road Bridge moved eight metres left and right and four metres up and down.

"That won't be the case with the new crossing."

New technology called wind shielding will protect traffic from harsh crosswinds. This could mean allowing higher vehicles, like double decker buses, to still cross.

He also gave updates on the foundation work, using pictures to illustrate the ground work. A total of 24 divers have been working shifts in the Forth, and digger operators have computer screens and satellite positioning technology in their vehicles to help with accuracy.

So far, a quarter of a million tonnes of material has been dragged from the bed of the Forth to make way for the new foundations of the £1.6 billion project.