The newest bridge over the Forth estuary is now three years into construction and a timelapse video has been published showing highlights of the build (link to video opens in new tab). The past year has been the most visually striking on the project to date, including the towers rising out of the water, the deck installation beginning and the south viaduct being pushed out 450m.
Twelve deck sections, each made from 250t of steel, have been placed - four per tower - during the year. Temporary steel frames to support the deck along with deck erection travellers, used to install the remaining deck, have also been installed.
Cabinet secretary for infrastructure Keith Brown said: “The Queensferry Crossing has really started to take its place alongside its illustrious neighbours during 2014.
“Last December, I reported that the first sections of the south approach viaduct were ready to be launched. The viaduct is now fully assembled and has been pushed out over 450m, with only one further pier to cross before reaching its final full length of 543m.
“Looking back it is hard now to remember when so little of the towers could be seen as they began to emerge from their foundations. Now they each stand over 90m high really demonstrating the solid progress that has been made on the job.
He added: “The work of Taklift 6, a huge 125m-tall floating crane capable of lifting 1,200 tonnes, provided another spectacular moment of engineering on this scale. In just two months the crane had put in place the temporary steel, first deck sections and the range of other equipment on each of the three main towers.
Currently about 1,200 people are employed on the project, which remains on schedule and is now US$303 million under the original budget at the start of construction. The new budget range is US$2.1 billion to US$2.18 billion.
