The Queensferry Crossing is being built by Forth Crossing Bridge Constructors (FCBC), a consortium of Hochtief, Dragados, American Bridge International and Morrison Construction. FCBC project director Michael Martin said: “The final 'closure' is always one of the most significant milestones in any bridge construction programme. On a bridge of this magnificent scale, well, it’s more than a bit special. It is a real pleasure to pay tribute to the skill and dedication of everybody involved and to congratulate them on an outstanding achievement.”
The new bridge has 122 deck sections in total. Initially 12 were lifted into place by a floating crane in October 2014. Lifting of the remaining 110 began in September 2015. Each deck section weighs approximately 750t; they are around 40m wide and typically 16m in length although the final closure unit installed on 3 February is 12.1m long. Completion of the deck has used 77,200t of steel and concrete.
The new three-tower cable-stayed structure stands alongside the Forth Bridge and the Forth Road Bridge over the Firth of Forth near Edinburgh. Scottish government economy secretary Keith Brown said: “The public have been fascinated by the spectacular progress on the Queensferry Crossing. While there is a lot of work left before opening to traffic in May, completing the deck represents a true landmark moment that we’ve all been looking forward to. It’s the moment Fife and Edinburgh are connected by a third, stunning structure across the wide waters of the Forth.”
The focus of work will now shift to completing the concrete deck of the south approach viaduct and making the full and final closure of the bridge deck from end to end.
