The Courier & Advertiser (Fife Edition)
Royal date: Queen to officially open new Queensferry Crossing.
Monarch to open new bridge 53 years to very day she cut tape on its neighbour
The Queen is set to officially open the Queensferry Crossing on September 4.
And in a remarkable spanning of the years, it will be 53 years to the day since she opened the neighbouring Forth Road Bridge.
Activities, including musical performances and a poem read by Scotland’s Makar Jackie Kay, will take place on both sides of the £1.35 billion bridge to celebrate.
Another celebration will be an additional day when the public can get up close to the flagship project.
The bridge will open to traffic on August 30 but will then temporarily close again over the weekend of September 2-3.
This is to allow 50,000 lucky ballot winners to experience a once-in-a lifetime opportunity to walk across its 1.7-mile long span.
And following calls for greater public involvement, an extra community day will take place on September 5, giving up to 10,000 more people from local schools and community groups the chance to walk the bridge.
The following day it will reopen to traffic and unlike its sister road bridge, there will be no pedestrian access.
Giving a welcoming address on the day will be the First Minister.
Nicola Sturgeon said it was fitting the crossing would be opened by the Queen 53 years on from the day she officially opened its neighbour.
“Importantly, this celebratory event will recognise the thousands of people who have been involved in the construction of the new bridge,” she said.
It is a symbol of a confident, forward looking Scotland, she added, as well as providing a vital transport link via a truly iconic structure and feat of modern engineering.
Giving a blessing will be the moderator of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland, who was also at the opening of the Forth Road Bridge.
The Right Rev Dr Derek Browning said it was a huge privilege to be involved.
“On a personal note I’m delighted to be present at this Forth Crossing opening as I was brought as a two-yearold to the opening of the Forth Road Bridge in 1964,” he said.
Originally due to open last December, the Scottish Government’s flagship project’s completion has twice been delayed.
Initially it was hoped it could be open by May this year.
However, bad weather at the start of the year saw that date postponed again.
Its completion has made the Forth unique.
It is the only place where three bridges from three separate centuries stand side by side. All three have regal connections. The Forth Bridge was opened by thethen Prince of Wales in 1890.
After her duties opening the road bridge, the Queen returned 50 years later, unveiling a plaque to those who worked on it, to sit alongside the first memorial.
Malcolm Roughead, chief executive of VisitScotland, said Scotland would celebrate a moment in history on September 4.
“It is a time to not only celebrate Scotland as a nation of pioneering innovation, design and engineering but also give thanks to all those who have worked tirelessly to create this unique new structure.
“The addition of the Queensferry Crossing consolidates the Forth Bridges as global icons of Scotland and we look forward to showcasing all three aweinspiring structures to the world for many years to come.”