The Forth Road Bridge

The Forth Bridges Website provides a history of the Road Bridge, facts and figures and a photo gallery of the construction of the bridge.

Construction and Opening

28 amazing pictures from the 1960s that show the construction and opening of one of Scotland’s marvels of engineering, from The Scotsman by David Hepburn, Wednesday, 8th December 2021

Up until 1964 those wanting to take their car between Edinburgh and Fife they were forced to rely on a centuries-old ferry service over the Forth Estuary.

The only other option was a long road trip to the Old Bridge in Stirling or, post 1936, the Kincardine Bridge.
That all changed in 1964 with the opening of the Forth Road Bridge, which was at the the time the longest suspension bridge in the world outside the United States of America.

Spanning the Firth of Forth between Queensferry and North Queensferry next to the Forth (railway) Bridge, opened in 1890, the two engineering feats created one of the most famous views in Scotland – even before they were joined by the new Queensferry Crossing in 2017.

It took more than four years to build from 39,000 tonnes of steel and 125,00 cubic metres of concrete. It spans over 2.5 kilometres and when first opened,

Originally it was a toll bridge, with a charge of £1 to cross in either direction in place until the levvy was scrapped by the Scottish Parliament in 2008.

At its peak it carried over 65,000 vehicles every day before it was partially retired on the completion of the Queensferry Crossing.

It is now used as a Public Transport Corridor by buses and taxis – along with pedestrians and cyclists – and occasionally brought back into use when its replacement is undergoing repair.
Here are 28 pictures of the construction and eventual opening of the bridge – along with the ferries it replaced.

All of the photographs are by an Unknown photographer

1. Waiting to cross

Cars queue at South Queensferry to board the ferry across the Forth three months before the Forth Road Bridge was opened.

2. More queues

A queue for the car ferry at North Queensferry in September 1963 – while the Forth Road Bridge was being constructed.

3. What a view

A painter walking down the centre girder of the Forth Bridge looks over to the Forth Road Bridge under construction in 1962.

4. Final ferry

Cpt RA Mason aboard the Queen Margaret during the final ferry crossing of the Forth before the bridge opened.

5. Not much to look at

Early days in the construction process in 1960.

6. Lowering into place

More work on the bridge in the early 1960s.

7. Road to nowhere

The construction of the Forth Road Bridge approach road, near Dalmeny, with the Forth Bridge in the background, in October 1961

8. High flier

Painting the main suspension steel ropes of the Forth Road Bridge in September 1963.

9. Don’t look down

A head for heights was essential for those painting the Forth Road Bridge in 1963.

10. Work in progress

The bridge taking shape in July 1963.

11. Nearly there

The Forth Road Bridge nearing completion in September 1963.

12. Bare bones

Looking down at the bridge’s anchorage and steel ducts, at South Queensferry, through which the supporting wires would eventually pass, in April 1960.

13. Final touches

Adding the final touches ahead of the opening of the bridge in 1964.

14. We made this

Forth Road Bridge workers James MacDonald and James McKeown on the bridge the day before it was officially opened.

15. Warm welcome

Lord Provost Weatherstone greets the Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh at the opening of the Forth Road Bridge on September 4, 1964.

16. Now open

The Queen officially opens the Forth Road Bridge on September 4, 1964.

17. A right royal thanks

The Queen shakes hands with Sheriff Lillie in Fife while meeting some of those involved with the construction of the bridge at the opening in September 1964.

18. Excited youngsters

School children from North Queensferry had the best view in the house at the bridge opening.

19. Early arrivals

Members of the Red Cross were some of the first people to arrive at the 1964 bridge opening ceremony.

20. Patiently waiting

The crowd waiting at North Queensferry wait for the Queen’s arrival at the official opening of the Forth Road Bridge in September 1964.

21. Stamp of approval

A special set of stamps were issued by the Royal Mail to mark the opening of the Forth Road Bridge

22. Taking its toll

One of the first drivers to cross the bridge pays the toll in 1964.

23. Delivering the news

The Scotsman News and Dispatch van crosses the Forth Road Bridge for the first time in 1964.

24. Tailback

Cars and buses tailback at the Forth Road Bridge tollbooths in 1964 – shortly after the bridge opened.

25. The boss

Mr R Wilson, the first Forth Road Bridge Master, in front of the tollbooths in 1964.

26. Light trails

A time exposure photograph shows the lights of moving vehicles on the approach to the Forth Road Bridge in October 1964.

27. In memory

Lord Provost Weatherstone unveiled a plaque in memory of the seven men who were killed during the construction of the Forth Road Bridge in June 1965.

28. Drive safe

The RAC provide anti-freeze for motorists at the northern end of the Forth Road Bridge in December 1965.