The Queensferry Crossing is now connected to Fife.
In another milestone, engineers have joined the north deck to the viaduct, meaning the £1.3 billion bridge is now linked to the Fife shore.
The contractor Forth Crossing Bridge Constructors consortium has now closed the final 700 millimetre gap between the two structures.
Economy Secretary Keith Brown, among the first to walk from the land on to the bridge, hailed it as a historic and symbolic moment.
The connection represents the first of four closures between the deck fans now nearing completion around each of the bridge’s three towers.
By connecting the viaduct and north tower deck of the Queensferry Crossing a massive temporary structure measuring around 600 metres long and weighing roughly 30,000 tonnes has been formed.
It is made up of more than 10,000 tonnes of steel and 20,000 tonnes of concrete while 46 stay-cables have been installed to hold the bridge deck in place.
Mr Brown, revealing the bridge was still on target to open by its new deadline of May next year, added: “We’re all witnessing engineering on a truly epic scale on this project, with over 30,000 tonnes of concrete and steel used just to build this part of the bridge,” he said.
Despite the massive size and weight of the bridge completing the closure between the viaduct and bridge deck was, however, a delicate operation.
“The progress being made on the Queensferry Crossing and its approach roads continues to demand skill and dedication from everyone involved.
“The Firth of Forth presents challenging weather conditions right throughout the year and I’m sure I speak for us all when I sincerely thank all of those hard-working people for getting us to this point.
“I am pleased to update that subject to weather conditions, the project remains significantly under budget and on track to open in May 2017 in line with the revised programme and the contractual completion date.”
Michael Martin, FCBC project director, said: “The first closure on any bridge project is always a significant milestone.
“On this fantastic project, this closure represents leading edge civil engineering.”
