Slender towers and spun main cables created the first permanent road crossing of the Forth and a landmark of post-war Scottish engineering.
Quick facts
- Date
- Commissioned 1947; built 1958–64; opened 4 September 1964
- Architect / designer
- Mott, Hay and Anderson with Freeman Fox and Partners
- Type
- Long-span steel suspension bridge with approach viaducts
- Designation
- Listed building, Category A (LB47778)
- OS grid reference
- NT 12535 79638
Architecture and continuing use
Twin steel towers carry spun suspension cables from massive rock anchors. Vertical hangers support the deck across a 1,006-metre main span, with steel-box approach viaducts on paired concrete piers. Cantilevered side paths separate walking and cycling from the central carriageways.
Its story
Long debated, the road crossing was commissioned in 1947 and constructed from 1958. When it opened in 1964 it was the world’s fourth-longest suspension bridge and the longest outside the United States. The Queensferry Crossing took general motorway traffic in 2017, allowing the older bridge to become a managed public-transport corridor while retaining pedestrian and cycle access.
Why it is included
Category A listing recognises a pioneering lightweight suspension bridge and a major expression of post-war transport policy and engineering.
What to notice
- Slender tower legs joined by open lattice bracing.
- Main cables curving between anchorages and tower saddles.
- Long approach viaducts stepping down to each shore.
Reading the surroundings
Check live bridge conditions before setting out. Use the designated open footpath or cycleway, follow wind and maintenance closures, keep clear of carriageways and works traffic, and note that only permitted vehicles may use the public-transport corridor.
Timeline
- 1947 Government commissioning restarted the long-delayed road-crossing project.
- 1958 Construction began on towers, anchorages, cables and approach viaducts.
- 4 September 1964 The crossing opened with a span ranking among the world’s longest.
- 2017 General motorway traffic moved to the Queensferry Crossing and the older bridge changed role.
What we know — and what remains uncertain
Footpath sides, lane use and permitted traffic can change for weather or maintenance; only live bridge control information confirms present conditions.
Sources & further reading
- Historic Environment Scotland: Forth Road Bridge, LB47778 — Current designation status, mapped location, date, fabric and architectural interest.
- Trove designation: LB47778 — Parallel national record identity and archival context.
- The Forth Bridges: Forth Road Bridge — Current bridge role, access and engineering overview.
- The Forth Bridges: walking and cycling — Current public-transport corridor, footpath, cycleway and weather restrictions.
Location
OS grid reference NT 12535 79638 · Location confidence: High: the current national designation supplies an exact mapped National Grid Reference; public text separately states access and current-use uncertainty. · Select the marker to open its satellite view in Google Maps. On desktop, drag Pegman (the yellow figure) onto a blue road. On mobile, turn on the Street View layer and tap a blue road. Other photo markers may be user-contributed.
Suggest a marker correction
Suggest a more accurate position
The teal marker is the current published position. The orange marker starts slightly to its right so both remain visible; this is only a visual starting position. Tap the correct place on the map or drag the orange marker. Sending this form creates a private review entry only; it does not move the published marker.
Check this area in Google Maps Choose the Satellite layer there if useful.
Map: © OpenStreetMap contributors. You can also enter checked coordinates below.