The Scottish economy received a pre-Christmas boost today as MSPs voted overwhelmingly in favour of a replacement for the Forth Road Bridge that will protect a vital link in the strategic transport network.

The Forth Crossing Bill, introduced by Finance Secretary John Swinney in November 2009, was praised by MSPs for bringing forward proposals for a world-class, 21st Century crossing that replaces the Forth Road Bridge as the main route for traffic across the Forth.

Due to the deterioration of the main suspension cables and other ongoing maintenance issues, the existing Forth Road Bridge cannot continue as the main crossing for cross-Forth traffic and may have to close to some vehicles by 2017, although under the current proposals it would be retained as a dedicated public transport corridor for buses, cycles and taxis.

By protecting this strategically vital transport link, the FRC will secure over 3,000 jobs and economic revenue of £1.3 billion. It will also deliver significant additional economic benefits through the creation of hundreds of jobs and sub-contracting opportunities for local firms, estimated by the British Chambers of Commerce to be worth around £6 billion to Scotland’s economy.

Speaking after the debate, Transport Minister Keith Brown said: “The FRC project is absolutely vital for the future growth of Scotland’s economy and will also provide an immediate boost to the construction industry and associated sub contractors. I am delighted it received strong cross-party endorsement today.

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“This is a huge step for a huge infrastructure project, the biggest that Scotland has seen for a generation. In approving the Forth Crossing Bill the Scottish Parliament has helped safeguard a strategically vital link in the transport network that will protect thousands of jobs and secure billions of pounds worth of revenue.

“The project has made impressive progress since it was first announced in 2007. It has gone through planning, design development, consultation and parliamentary scrutiny in under four years and is on course to complete procurement and begin construction in 2011. This is an exceptional achievement and establishes a strong foundation for delivering the FRC scheme on schedule and within budget in 2016.

“This project will help protect the livelihoods of the people of Scotland, and it was very important that they, and the diverse organisations which represent them, were engaged and consulted extensively in the development of this legislation. We listened to their concerns, reflected on them and, as acknowledged by the Forth Crossing Bill committee, made a number of significant, positive changes as a result.

“I would like to publicly thank all those who have devoted significant time and energy to actively engaging in the process and I commend the individuals and organisations that have worked tirelessly to get to this point.”

MSPs had earlier heard that Scotland would face dire economic and social consequences if the essential cross-Forth link in the transport network was restricted or lost all together.

The Scottish Government is taking the earliest possible action to prevent this loss of service in order to protect the sustainable economic growth of Scotland and in particular the economies of Edinburgh, Fife and the Lothians.

With today’s approval by the Scottish Parliament, the FRC is on track and on target to be successfully delivered in 2016. It is expected that the Principal Contract to build the bridge and connecting roads, at an expected cost of £0.9 billion to £1.2 billion, will be awarded in April next year with the additional major contracts to upgrade M9 Junction 1a and deliver ITS in Fife awarded soon after.

The FRC will be the third major structural crossing of the lower Forth and will see a world-class 21st century structure sit alongside the iconic Forth Bridge and Forth Road Bridge from the 19th and 20th centuries.

(GK)