Image source, Transport Scotland

The new Queensferry Crossing will replace the Forth Road Bridge as the main road route between Edinburgh and Fife.

The speed limit will initially be 40mph but it is understood the new crossing will become a motorway with a 70mph speed limit in September.

The bridge was originally due to open in December, however, the completion date was delayed twice due to "adverse weather conditions".

Last week Economy Secretary Keith Brown said: "I am very pleased to be able to confirm the Queensferry Crossing will open 30 August 2017.

"The bridge will be used by vehicles up to 1 September, before closing to allow the public the chance to walk across it as part of the Queensferry Crossing Experience on 2 and 3 September.

"This Queensferry Crossing Experience will allow for up to 50,000 people to have the once in a lifetime chance to walk across the Queensferry Crossing before it becomes a motorway with no pedestrian access."

Image source, bbc

Economy Secretary Keith Brown says the Queensferry Crossing will open to traffic on 30 August.

Mr Brown says the installation of wind barriers is close to finishing.

He says final surfacing of the junction has taken place.

The economy secretary says 50,000 people will be able to cross the bridge on foot and there has been tremendous demand for the ballot.

It closes on 5 July.

Image source, Transport Scotland

The new Queensferry Crossing over the Firth of Forth will open to traffic on 30 August.

The £1.35bn bridge will then close temporarily to give the public a "once in a lifetime" chance to walk over it on 2 and 3 September.

There are 50,000 spaces for the Queensferry Crossing Experience, which will be allocated by a ballot.

The route will be given motorway status once public transport links north of the Forth Road Bridge are completed.

Within hours of the ballot opening, 50,000 people had applied from more than 25 countries.

Read more here.

Image source, bbc

Rural Economy and Connectivity Committee, external convener Edward Mountain welcomes:

• Economy Secretary Keith Brown
• Michelle Rennie, director of major transport infrastructure projects, Scottish government
• David Climie, project director, Forth Replacement Crossing Team, Transport Scotland
• Lawrence Shackman, project manager, Forth Replacement Crossing Team, Transport Scotland
• Michael Martin, project director, Forth Crossing Bridge Constructors.

As the evidence session on the Forth Replacement Crossing and other major transport infrastructure projects gets underway.

The Rural Economy and Connectivity Committee begins shortly.

There's two evidence sessions, the first on the Forth Replacement Crossing and the second on Common Agriculture Payments.

Image source, bbc

Economy Secretary Keith Brown is first in the hot seat being quizzed about the Forth Replacement Crossing and other major infrastructure projects.

Then his cabinet colleague Rural Economy Secretary Fergus Ewing can expect some tough questioning following the Scottish government's call for an extension to the CAP payments deadline for the second year running.

Good morning and welcome to Holyrood Live on Wednesday 28 June 2017.

The Rural Economy and Connectivity Committee will take evidence on the replacement Forth Crossing from Economy Secretary Keith Brown.

It will then take evidence on CAP payments after the Scottish government requested a further extension to the deadline.

The committee will hear from Rural Economy Secretary Fergus Ewing on this issue.

Image source, Transport Scotland/Thinkstock/Lukassek

SNP MSP Kenneth Gibson will lead a lunchtime member’s debate entitled ‘BT to Remove One-in-five Phone Boxes in Scotland.

Communities, social security and equalities ministers will then face portfolio questions.

The Scottish government will then lead a debate on the next steps for education governance.

After decision time, Labour MSP James Kelly will lead a member’s debate on the Charter of Rights for people with dementia and carers.