Queensferry Crossing construction remains on schedule

Construction of the Queensferry Crossing in Scotland is moving forward at a rapid pace. 

The world’s largest continuous underwater concrete pour has been achieved as foundation work for the huge 210 metre high Queensferry Crossing towers progresses.

The crossing is being built alongside the existing Forth Road Bridge across the Firth of Forth, and will connect Scotland's capital city Edinburgh, at South Queensferry, to Fife, at North Queensferry.

With work already completed on huge concrete plugs on which the foundations of the north and centre towers, the finishing touches have now been completed on the south tower plug.

The huge 15 day, 24 hour non-stop operation, successfully poured 16,869 m3 of concrete to the foundations of the south tower.

The concrete was delivered by barges from the batching plant at Rosyth dockyards into position in the Firth of Forth at a rate of 47 m3 an hour.

The concrete pour is the latest foundation work for the three main towers that will support the bridge’s deck, with work already progressing well on the centre tower structure and the north tower base.

Transport Scotland project director David Climie said: “There has been excellent team work and a fantastic effort to get us to this point. We have come through a very challenging phase of construction.

“We are now coming out of the water and are working in the dry on all three towers. And the first of 54 pours for the centre tower has been completed. I am confident the project remains on schedule for completion by the end of 2016.”