Forth Replacement Crossing – Project Background and Feasibility

The Forth Road Bridge has successfully carried road traffic across the Forth estuary since 1964. The deteriorating condition of the bridge, particularly in relation to the main suspension cables, and the great difficulty in rehabilitation without massive disruption to traffic, has resulted in the need for a replacement crossing to secure the future of cross-Forth travel.

This paper describes the comprehensive studies made into the future transport needs for the link between Fife, Edinburgh and the east coast of Scotland, which concluded that a replacement road crossing is required. Different alignment corridors were considered for the new crossing and the choice between a tunnel and a bridge was investigated, resulting in the selection of a new cable stayed bridge as the optimum solution. A Bill of Parliament was taken through Scottish Parliament resulting in an overwhelming vote for the project, and the granting of Royal Assent. The strategy set out by Transport Scotland for the procurement of the new crossing, and the aspirations for the project as it moves from the scheme preparation and procurement phase into the construction phase are described.