All of the three main towers of the new £1.35 billion Queensferry bridge over the Forth river are now half complete, standing at 210 m tall. They will reach their full height by the summer.

Work on the main deck is also underway, with ten per cent already finished. The southern viaduct deck is complete, and it only needs to be moved into its final position. The bridge is expected to open at the end of 2016 and come in under budget, according to the Scottish infrastructure secretary Keith Brown.

There will now be a period of extensive roadworks as the project prepares to join the existing roads to the new crossing. Average speed cameras will also be installed to monitor the 40 mph speed limit these works require.

Mr Brown said: “Visiting in the middle of winter reminds us only too well of the harsh and 
challenging conditions those building the bridge will continue to face before the bridge opens in late 2016.”

However, he claimed that the project was already being cited as “a shining example of good,
efficient project management”.