A major milestone has been reached on the £1.3 billion Queensferry Crossing project across the Firth of Forth.

105 of the 110 deck units have been lifted into place, leaving just 52 metres to complete the entire bridge deck.

Engineers working for main contractor Forth Crossing Bridge Constructors (FCBC) have installed the remaining piece of deck between the north and centre tower deck spans. The closure of the north and centre deck fans is the third of four principal closures required to complete the structure.

The next phase of work will involve using ballast and adjusting cables to ensure the height is aligned and ready for the final closure of the two sections.

-- Advertisement --

FCBC Project Director, Michael Martin, said: "In total, we will have four principal deck closures on the Queensferry Crossing. Earlier this year, we closed the gap between the North Tower deck span and the northern approach viaduct. Then, in October, we achieved closure between the Centre and South Tower deck spans. We have now lifted the Centre Tower/North Tower closure section into place and work is on-going to fix it permanently into position.

"We are continuing to make considerable progress on the project as a whole. In fact, for the first time we can say that the three towers and their decks are now connected directly to Fife. The focus now is on achieving the technically challenging final closure between the South Tower and the southern approach viaduct which is planned for early in the new year."

Economy Secretary Keith Brown added: "Connecting all three of the Queensferry Crossing towers, from Fife right over to the south deck fan is another example of the good progress being made on the project. Despite the huge size and weight of the units being lifted, lifting them into place is a very precise operation.

"Overall, the project remains significantly under budget and on schedule to open in May 2017."

(LM)