Fleets of buses laid on to transfer walkers to bridge and pick up stragglers

Walkers are warned their “Queensferry Crossing Experience” will take three hours – three times as long as they will have to cross the bridge.

They must arrive at a designated “travel hub” on either side of the Forth at least 15 minutes before their allocated departure time.

Buses from the Edinburgh hubs will transfer people to the south end of the bridge.

They will walk on the northbound carriageway and be collected by buses leaving every ten minutes from the north end to take them back at the end of their walk.

Those travelling from Fife hubs will do the opposite – and by using the southbound carriageway are likely to get the better view, looking east to the Forth Road Bridge and Forth Bridge.

Information displays on the bridge will describe its construction, supplemented by construction workers on hand as uniformed “ambassadors” to answer questions.

No bikes, dogs or other pets are allowed apart from “accredited assistance dogs”, but the buses can take wheelchairs.

Collapsible pushchairs can be taken, but there will be nowhere to leave bags, and no catering on the bridge.

Walkers are advised to wear warm clothes, but only winds above 50mph will cancel the event.

Those struggling to get all the way across can use a fleet of courtesy vehicles shuttling along the hard shoulders,

Medical staff and disabled toilets will also be on hand.

The event is being run by GSI Events on behalf of the Scottish Government’s Transport Scotland agency, which is in charge of the bridge.

Walks for 6,500 bridge workers and their families are also on tomorrow, and for 10,000 local people on Tuesday.

The events are because the bridge has no public walkways and will become a motorway.