A series of events will be held later this year to commemorate the sixtieth anniversary of the Forth Road Bridge, including a procession of classic buses. The iconic crossing opened to traffic for the first time on 4 September 1964 and was, at the time, the longest suspension bridge in the world outside the USA.
There will be a number of public events held on the 4 and 7 of September this year to mark the milestone, including a ceremony with local school children and representatives to celebrate the bridge’s links with the community, a public exhibition on the history of the bridge and presentations on the future of the famous crossing from industry professionals, and 60 tours to the top of the towers, with a competition for members of the public to win places. On Saturday 7 September, a fleet of vintage and electric buses will offer trips across the bridge.
Speaking about the anniversary, Cabinet Secretary for Transport Fiona Hyslop said: “The Forth Road Bridge has long been part of landscape along the River Forth and it is fitting that we mark its 60 years of service. This series of events will celebrate the iconic crossing’s close links with the local community, as well as the travelling public.
“While the Forth Road Bridge now plays a different role than it did 60 years ago, it still provides important resilience as a public transport corridor. I look forward to seeing it continue this important role for year to come.”
Operating company BEAR Scotland’s South East Bridges Manager David Bishop added: “We’re delighted to be celebrating 60 years of the Forth Road Bridge. It had the fourth longest span in the world when it opened and is still one of the world’s most significant suspension bridges. In recent years it has been strengthened and refurbished to provide many more decades of service.
“The Forth Road Bridge is an engineering achievement that we can all take pride in and we look forward to welcoming the public this September.”
