The Queensferry Crossing has moved a step closer to completion with all three towers now connected directly to Fife.
Engineers have lifted into place the final deck segment connecting the centre and north towers of the £1.3 billion new Forth crossing.
Work will now begin to align the two sections of deck using ballast and adjusting cables.
The bridge, due to open in May next year, will be completed by closing the remaining 52-metre gap to connect the south tower and the southern approach viaduct.
Forth Crossing Bridge Constructors project director Michael Martin said: “Earlier this year, we closed the gap between the north tower deck span and the northern approach viaduct.
“Then, in October, we achieved closure between the centre and south tower deck spans.
“We have now lifted the centre tower/north tower closure section into place and work is ongoing to fix it permanently into position.
“We are continuing to make considerable progress on the project as a whole. In fact, for the first time we can say that the three towers and their decks are now connected directly to Fife.
“The focus now is on achieving the technically-challenging final closure between the south tower and the southern approach viaduct which is planned for early in the new year.”
Economy Secretary Keith Brown added: “Connecting all three of the Queensferry Crossing towers from Fife right over to the south deck fan is another example of the good progress being made on the project.
“Despite the huge size and weight of the units being lifted, lifting them into place is a very precise operation.
“This is truly world-class engineering taking place to bridge the Firth of Forth for the third time in consecutive centuries.
“Successfully building the new bridge and the road network requires careful planning and delivery of over 10,000 operations. The workforce continue to do an excellent job in often very tough conditions.
“Overall, the project remains significantly under budget and on schedule to open in May 2017.”
