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New Forth crossing plans approved | New Forth crossing plans approved |
(20 minutes later) | |
The Scottish Cabinet has backed plans to build a new bridge or a tunnel across the Firth of Forth. | The Scottish Cabinet has backed plans to build a new bridge or a tunnel across the Firth of Forth. |
Ministers have yet to decide on the route and funding method but the project is expected to cost about £1bn. | Ministers have yet to decide on the route and funding method but the project is expected to cost about £1bn. |
The cost to replace the existing Forth Road Bridge, which is suffering from corrosion, is expected to be almost double that of earlier estimates. | |
Ministers looked at expert assessments and agreed on Wednesday, in principle, to building a new crossing. | Ministers looked at expert assessments and agreed on Wednesday, in principle, to building a new crossing. |
Transport Minister Tavish Scott, said three plans had been drawn up as possible routes for the new crossing. | |
Cabinet is clear, doing nothing is not an option given the importance of this crossing to the Scottish economy and the people of Fife Tavish ScottTransport Minister | |
Mr Scott said: "The scale of the crossing, which will cost at least £1bn, will be the biggest construction project since devolution. | |
"Cabinet is clear, doing nothing is not an option given the importance of this crossing to the Scottish economy and the people of Fife. | |
"Cabinet agreed on Wednesday to take forward the replacement crossing. | |
"Work will continue to assist a final decision which will be made this summer on where the crossing will be, what it will be, and how much it will cost." | |
Major disruption | |
Alastair Andrew, general manager of the Forth Estuary Transport Association (Feta), welcomed the progress made by the Scottish Executive and the commitment to a new crossing. | |
Mr Andrew said he was looking forward to contributing to the debate on the type of crossing. | |
Fife MSPs and business leaders have been backing plans for a new crossing, although some campaigners say it is already too late to prevent major disruption. | |
The Scottish Green Party said it was not convinced that the existing bridge was beyond repair. | |
Final decisions on the funding method, the route and whether a bridge or tunnel would be best will be taken after the Holyrood elections. | Final decisions on the funding method, the route and whether a bridge or tunnel would be best will be taken after the Holyrood elections. |
Phil Flanders, of the Road Haulage Association, has backed the construction of a new crossing. | |
"Nobody seems to know just how long the bridge will have but we do know that, in the current state, HGVs will be banned from 2013," he said. | "Nobody seems to know just how long the bridge will have but we do know that, in the current state, HGVs will be banned from 2013," he said. |