The Courier & Advertiser (Fife Edition)
Crossing’s a temporary footbridge
Lucky 50,000 take chance of unique walk
Pedestrians from Tayside and Fife were among more than 50,000 people who enjoyed a “once in a lifetime opportunity” to walk across the new Queensferry Crossing at the weekend.
Families, couples and people of all ages took to the new £1.35 billion road bridge over the Firth of Forth on Saturday and yesterday .
The 1.7-mile crossing has no pedestrian walkway but has been closed to traffic in preparation for the official opening by the Queen today.
The first person to set foot on the north side was seven-year-old McKenzie Webster from Thornton, who was joined by his big brother Mitchell, 11, and grandmother Bertha Webster.
The Denbeath Primary School pupil described the experience as amazing.
“He was the first to step on to the bridge from that side and the first child to get all the way across,” said Bertha.
Some of those walking had poignant reasons for taking part in the experience, including Kenny Burns from Coaltown of Wemyss.
His late father James was among the first to walk across the Forth Road Bridge when it opened 53 years ago and he wanted to honour his memory by crossing the new structure.
“He was a policeman with Fife Constabulary and that’s why he got to cross,” he said. “Today is in memory of him.”
Peter and Sarah Hopkins from St Cyrus were keen to be involved as their daughter Stephanie helped build the crossing.
The former Mearns Academy pupil graduated from Heriot Watt University with a first class honours in structural engineering and helped create the windshields running along each side.
Although Stephanie was not with them, her proud parents were joined by her grandfather, retired engineer Edward Bird, who travelled from Dorset for the occasion.
Mum Sarah said: “It’s an incredible engineering feat.
“We’ve watched it grow as we travelled to Edinburgh to see Stephanie and to see it finished is amazing.”
Others who enjoyed the opportunity just wanted to experience a bit of history and have fun.
Tammy and David Allford from Tayport took their daughters Robyn, 11, and six-year-old Martha and thoroughly enjoyed themselves.
“You could probably roller skate across because it’s nice and flat,” joked Tammy.
Martha now intends to talk about her day out at her class show-and-tell next week.
Dundee couple Derek and Tracey Taylor and 14-year-old daughter CarrieAnne said that despite the huge number of visitors, the event had been very well organised.
“The volunteers have done a really good job and the bridge is just stunning,” said Derek.
Joining the successful ticket-holders were First Minister Nicola Sturgeon and Transport Minister Humza Yousaf.
Ms Sturgeon said: “Walking across the new Queensferry Crossing will be a once in a lifetime experience.”
The new bridge will eventually have a 70mph speed limit, although an initial 40mph limit will be imposed to take account of driver distraction. The old bridge will be a public transport corridor.