Bridge savings in Scotland to fund road improvements

The project to construct the new Forth Crossing close to Scottish capital Edinburgh is looking extremely positive, with cost savings envisaged for the bridge. The Queensferry Crossing scheme now looks to require slightly less funding than had been originally expected when the plans were unveiled in 2011, due in part to tight controls over spending. The bridge costs had been budgeted at close to €2 billion (£1.6 billion) initially but the project now looks likely to cost €1.81 billion (£1.45 billion). The sa
August 27, 2014 Read time: 2 mins
Construction of the third Don Crossing in Aberdeen is commencing and completion is planned for late 2015

The project to construct the new Forth Crossing close to Scottish capital Edinburgh is looking extremely positive, with cost savings envisaged for the bridge. The Queensferry Crossing scheme now looks to require slightly less funding than had been originally expected when the plans were unveiled in 2011, due in part to tight controls over spending. The bridge costs had been budgeted at close to €2 billion (£1.6 billion) initially but the project now looks likely to cost €1.81 billion (£1.45 billion). The savings from the bridge project will instead be invested in upgrades to the A9, bringing forward the start of this series of works. In all the A9 upgrade is expected to cost €3.745 billion (£3 billion), with the stretch from Perth to Inverness being upgraded to a dual carriageway along its length by 2025. The first of 12 stretches of the A9 to be upgraded will be the 8km section between Kincraig and Dalraddy, with an expected cost of some €62.4 million (£50 million). The new Forth Crossing is being constructed as the existing Forth Road Bridge is wearing out, due to a massive increase in both traffic volumes and vehicle weights that was not conceived when it was first planned in the 1950s. The upgrade to the A9 is much needed as the route provides an important link for transport and tourism between Scotland’s highly-populated Central Belt and the city of Inverness in the Scottish Highlands.

Meanwhile a new bridge is planned for the Scottish city of Aberdeen, centre of the country’s oil industry. Continued growth in the city from the oil industry is fuelling an increase in vehicle numbers, with congestion a serious problem. As a result, Aberdeen City Council has given a contract to Balfour Beatty to construct the Third Don Crossing at a cost of some €17.6 million (£14.3 million). The two existing crossings to the north of the city centre suffer heavy congestion during peak periods at present and this new bridge is intended to alleviate the problem. Balfour Beatty will build the new 90m span over the River Don, which will feature twin open box steel girders supporting a reinforced concrete deck.

Road Structures

Related Content

  • Bridge under discussion for UK’s River Thames
    June 19, 2012
    Engineering specialist AECOM will carry out a study into the proposed Lower Thames Crossing project in the UK.
    Read More
  • Upgrading a busy A road link in the UK
    July 4, 2018
    The upgrade to the UK’s busy A14 route will address a significant traffic bottleneck - Mike Woof writes The UK is suffering badly from traffic congestion, a problem that is particularly severe in and around its major cities. Lack of investment in road construction over many years has resulted in a major backlog of work, while the country has seen growing vehicle numbers. To make matters worse, there have been few additions to the major road network since the late 1980s and early 1990s. And the combinatio
    Read More
  • Almost gone: Canada’s old Port Mann Bridge deconstructed
    August 14, 2015
    Three years ago a welder’s cut halved Canada’s old Port Mann Bridge. David Arminas reports from the banks of the Fraser River. By the time this issue of World Highways reaches you, one of Canada’s iconic steel arch bridges will be a shadow of its former self. It’s been a three-year demolition job since the first cut across the deck of the old Port Mann Bridge just outside the city of Vancouver on Canada’s Pacific coast. A new 10-lane 2.2km Port Mann Bridge opened in 2012 (see box). It runs parallel to the o
    Read More
  • Golden opportunities in the MINT - Mexico, Indonesia, Nigeria, Turkey
    May 21, 2015
    Mexico, Indonesia, Nigeria, Turkey – Global Report offers up some food for thought about where smart money might be headed within the next several years – David Arminas writes China’s rate of growth may be slowing down, but other South East Asian companies are being quick to offer alternate investment opportunities, notably Indonesia. Nigeria, too, has had issues with security of investment. But there are signs that the government may be getting serious at last about tightening up rules and regulation
    Read More

Highlighted Content