In 2019, Network Rail tested the water for the Forth Bridge Experience project by engaging with the local community to shape a proposal.
Revised proposals have now been submitted to the City of Edinburgh Council including a low-level reception hub which will be located to the east of the Forth Bridge and at a greater distance from residential properties than initially suggested and keeping the impact of the structure on the local environment to a minimum.
The pre-application process is a statutory requirement that must be completed previous to any major or national development.
Network Rail's pre-application notice will involve online engagement meetings which are intended to convey the revised proposals to the public in a bid to collect feedback that will aid in creating the final designs.
Following public engagements, a full planning application will be submitted, which will feature plans, artists' impressions and comprehensive designs which should happen later this year.
The exciting proposals will feature the building of a bridge walk and reception hub, which will be located on the South Queensferry side of the impressive Forth bridge. The hub will be used to prepare visitors before heading to the bridge walk and will also provide entry to the structure.
Safety harnesses will need to be worn by visitors using the bridge walk and it is expected that groups of 12 to 15 people will be led onto the bridges south cantilever where they will walk using walkways which will be built into the structure and lead up to a viewing area on the top of the bridge.
The stunning Forth Bridge is an iconic Scottish landmark and also a UNESCO World Heritage site. The bridge was built between 1883 and 1890 by Sir John Fowler, Benjamin Baker and more than 4,500 men and is recognised throughout the world. It is also still the world record holder for the longest cantilever bridge.
Alan Ross, Network Rail Scotland's director of engineering and asset management, said:“The events of the past year have prompted us to look more closely at all of our projects to consider how they could be improved or made more affordable in such challenging conditions.
“The project team has worked extremely hard to draw up revised proposals without compromising the desirability of this exciting project.”
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