Forth Replacement Crossing plans on view at public exhibitions

Public exhibitions setting out proposals for the Forth Replacement Crossing will take place from the 20th January 2009 at locations in Edinburgh, Fife and the Lothians.

Transport Scotland is taking the Forth Replacement Crossing exhibition to 12 different venues over two weeks to allow members of the public to view the plans for the crossing.

Engineers from Transport Scotland and its consultants Jacobs Arup will be on hand to explain the work undertaken during 2008 to develop the strategy for the new crossing over the Forth and answer questions.

This follows the ministerial announcement in December which confirmed that the Forth Replacement Crossing strategy will make use of the existing Forth Road Bridge as a dedicated public transport corridor. The project is to be progressed via a Parliamentary Bill to be introduced towards the end of 2009.

Stewart Stevenson, Minister for Transport, said:

"The Scottish Government and Transport Scotland wish to consult widely on the latest plans for the Forth Replacement Crossing, in particular with regard to the preferred corridor for road connections to and from the new bridge. Detailed plans will then be developed for the Parliamentary Bill process.

"The replacement crossing is the biggest Scottish infrastructure project for a generation and we would invite local residents, community groups, commuters, businesses and anyone who has a stake in the future of the Firth of Forth to come along and find out more about the proposals."

Exhibitions will be widely publicised in the press, on radio and on the web and in localities around the crossing from this week.

The public can provide feedback on the plans at the exhibitions, in writing to Transport Scotland or via the project website – www.forthreplacementcrossing.info