New crossing spick and span for royal opening

New £1.35bn structure will welcome the Queen for official opening on September 4

Enjoy it. Celebrate it. That has to be the message

After 18 million man hours the new £1.35 billion Queensferry Crossing is gearing up to welcome the Queen.

Exactly 53 years after the Queen opened the neighbouring Forth Road Bridge, she and the Duke of Edinburgh will again be Forthside on September 4.

The finishing touches, and inevitable road sweeping, are being carried out on what is the largest three-tower cablestayed bridge in the world.

The arrival of the newest Forth Bridge, which will serve 24 million vehicles a year, makes the Forth unique.

It is the only place in the world you will be able to see three bridges from three centuries, which should be a welcome shot in the arm for the Scottish tourism industry.

It will also prove vital for the country’s economy and infrastructure.

But according to Dr Mike Glover, technical director for the employers delivery team, projects of this scale also change communities for the better.

“As a civil engineer, the biggest job I can give is the infrastructure which will actually change people’s lives. “That is what the bridge represents. “It is not just about crossing the Forth, it represents an opportunity for people to build on.”

He said that aspect was most difficult to quantify and “if anything it is always undervalued”.

He said: “Enjoy it. Celebrate it. That has to be the message.

“This location is now absolutely unique in the world.”

Pictures: Getty. Top: David Gough looks out from one lane of the Queensferry Crossing as final works are carried out; middle: cables stretch away to the south tower from the bridge deck; above: technical director Dr Mike Glover, left, gives a briefing on the...