Fife Council has released information on the Forth Replacement Crossing (FRC) project.

The new motorway will open in phases from December 4 2012, with the second phase predicted for early 2013 and the third and final phase being finished in 2016.

The FRC is being built as a 'managed' motorway, using an Intelligent Transport System.

The system works through the spacing of overhead gantries along the corridor which provide lane control, variable mandatory speed control and bus lane control.

-- Advertisement --

Message signs on the gantries provide traffic information for drivers, meaning during periods of congestion the system can set signals and message signs to advise drivers and reduce queues.

Variable mandatory speed control is intended to help maintain a flow of traffic and limits congestion.

Evidence indicates that systems such as these can reduce accidents resulting in injury by up to 13%.

The Intelligent Transport System will stretch along a 22km corridor from the M90 Halbeath Junction over the new bridge to the M9 north of Newbridge Junction.

It will be the first instance of such a system being implemented in Scotland, however 'managed' motorways have been implemented in England, namely on the M42 and M25.

Fife Council is keen to point out drivers require no specialist skills to use roads featuring Intelligent Transport Systems.

(IT)