The Forth Bridges

South Queensferry and North Queensferry

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The Forth Bridges cross the Firth of Forth from between South Queensferry and North Queensferry.

South Queensferry lies about nine miles to the west of the centre of Edinburgh.  With the continuing expansion of the Edinburgh's boundaries, South Queensferry now lies within the City of Edinburgh. 

North Queensferry, about a mile to the north,  on the  northern shores of the Firth of Forth is in the Kingdom of Fife.

The Forth Rail Bridge

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Building of the Forth Bridge (as it was known until the Forth Road Bridge was built)  began in 1883.  The bridge took seven years to complete.  It was the first major steel bridge in the world.  54 lives were lost during its construction.

Brief details:

-  opened by HRH Prince of Wales on 4 March 1890.

-  it carries two railway tracks

-  1.5 miles long.

-  3 cantilevers, each 361 ft high.

-  4,000 construction workers built it.

-  54,000 tons of steel.

-  6,500,000 rivets

-  45 acres of steel surface to paint

-  floodlighting added 1990, and more recently upgraded

-  cost: £3,200,000

The Forth Road Bridge

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Brief details:

-  opened by Queen Elizabeth II in 1964

-  it carries 4 lanes of traffic, 2 cycle paths and 2 footpaths

-  the central span is 3,300 ft.

-  suspended from two towers, each 512 ft high.

-  supporting cables are 2 ft diameter.

-  150 ft clearance for shipping.

-  39,000 tons of steel.

-  cost:  including 8 miles of access roads £19,500,000

There is a Forth Bridge exhibitions:

-  in the restaurant close to the Rail Bridge at South Queensferry

-  at the Forth Bridge Visitors' Centre, on the road leading from the A90 to North Queensferry