The Courier & Advertiser (Perth and Perthshire Edition)
Open for business...
Complex operation is culmination of 10 years and 18 million man hours as iconic £1.35 billion crossing opens
After 10 years and 18 million man hours, the Queensferry Crossing is open for business.
In a complex operation in the early hours of this morning, traffic was carefully diverted away from the northern and southern approach roads to the 53-year-old Forth Road Bridge and on to the £1.35 billion crossing for the first time.
The opening came 24 hours after a spectacular light show illuminated the Forth to mark the ceremonial handover of the iconic new bridge from the contractors to the Scottish Government.
First Minister Nicola Sturgeon took part in a cavalcade of vintage and contemporary vehicles across the longest three-tower cable-stayed bridge in the world before starting the light display.
She said that while the bridge was here to do a job and keep the country connected, it symbolised so much more.
“This bridge will be one of the greatest bridges in the world. No, scrub that, this bridge is the greatest bridge in the world.”
The acid test for that statement will come as copies of The Courier drop on to doormats across the east coast of Scotland this morning.
That is when thousands of commuters pour across the Forth in the early morning rush hour.
Being opening day, their numbers are likely to be swollen by members of the public eager to say they had made the historic crossing.
In 1964, when the Forth Road Bridge was opened and there were far fewer vehicles on the road, a staggering 6,000 cars an hour streamed across on the first day.
Initially, the Queensferry Crossing will carry a 40mph limit.
Today and tomorrow all road traffic will use the new bridge, with the Forth Road Bridge open only to cyclists and pedestrians.
However, the Queensferry Crossing will then close again from Friday to September 6 for opening celebrations.
This includes the official opening on Monday by the Queen, 53 years to the day since she opened the Forth Road Bridge.
The Queensferry Crossing will then reopen to all traffic on September 7.
It is expected that the Queensferry Crossing will become a motorway in late October or early November when the Forth Road Bridge will become a public transport corridor.
“This bridge is the greatest bridge in the world. NICOLA STURGEON