Queensferry Crossing on schedule as north approach viaduct’s launched

Queensferry Crossing across the Forth River is on budget and on schedule as north approach viaduct is completed.

The £1.35Bn Queensferry Crossing is due to open to traffic by the end of the year, after the 5,600 tonne north approach viaduct was completed on time and on budget.

The north viaduct was constructed on site and pushed out over static temporary supports as a single operation, unlike the south viaduct which was completed in sections.

Including the temporary equipment needed for the launch, the total weight of the 220 metres long viaduct was 6,300 tonnes.

There are now only 64 metres, about the width of a football pitch, between making the connection from the north viaducts to the north deck fan.

Michael Martin, project director for the consortium building the new bridge, Forth Crossing Bridge Constructors, said: “A massive total of 6,300 tonnes of steel and concrete was launched out 230 metres, in itself a significant feat of engineering. But what makes this operation really special is the fact that we had to slide the trailing edge of the moving structure down two ramp walls in order to raise the front edge by two metres. This allowed us to pivot the entire structure over the top of one of the two support piers as it moved forwards, resulting in the viaduct structure being at the correct geometry to match the emerging deck coming from the north tower.”

Keith Brown, Infrastructure Secretary said: “If any further evidence is required to demonstrate large-scale, world-class engineering, look no further than the latest progress on the Queensferry Crossing.”

The 2.7km bridge is being built by the Forth Crossing Bridge Constructors (FCBC) consortium, comprising Hochtief, Dragados, American Bridge and Morrison Construction under a £790M contract.

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