Queensferry Crossing construction bill falls by £1bn, MSPs hear

The cost of building the new Queensferry Crossing has fallen by £1 billion and the bridge is on target to open to traffic by the end of the year, MSPs have been told.

In 2009, the new crossing had been expected to cost up to £2.34bn, however, the overall figure was later revised to be around £1.35bn.

Updating MSPs on Holyrood’s infrastructure and capital investment committee on the Queensferry Crossing’s progress, David Climbie of Transport Scotland said the bill is now expected to be between £1.325bn and £1.35bn.

The project director added that workers are “absolutely focused” on completing the new structure in time for it to open by the end of this year despite the progress being hampered by adverse weather during the winter.

Mr Climbie told the committee that when the new crossing was first considered in early 2007, “a 10- year timescale was considered extremely challenging for a project of this size and complexity”.

But he said: “We are still focused absolutely on achieving the original target date for opening to traffic and to a significantly reduced budget.”

He added: “The site team has risen to the challenges of the past few months, and through their efforts and through the FCBC’s efficient management of equipment and resources, the principle contract for the Queensferry Crossing and approach roads continues on target for opening to traffic by the end of 2016.

“We are absolutely focused on the target date of having traffic on the bridge by the end of this year, no matter what happens, whether it be weather, whether it be unexpected events like the Forth Road Bridge closure, any other unexpected events.”

Mr Climbie also praised staff involved in delivering the new bridge.

He said: “We’ve worked well over 10 million man hours on the project, we have a tremendous workforce on site… their dedication to the project is very clear.”