Scottish Forth Replacement Crossing Bill presented

Date: 18/11/2009

The Forth replacement crossing has been given the go-ahead by Scottish parliament to enter review by elected officials.

Opposition parties are offered the opportunity to scrutinise the plans presented, which earmark costs of £1.7 billion to £2.3 billion for the completed bridge in 2016.

The project will create a new two-lane carriageway under motorway standards with hard shoulders and span about 2.7 km in length.

Critics of the crossing claim repairing the existing bridge would be more cost-effective and undermine carbon emission targets, according to the Times.

A contractor selection process has already begun and Transport Scotland will announce the shortlist of organisations selected for tender by the end of November.

The Forth Replacement Crossing Bill is expected to be clear of all three parliamentary stages by November 2010.