The cost of the new Queensferry Crossing is set to drop by £145 million from previous estimates, Scotland’s Finance Secretary has claimed.
John Swinney revealed the new budget range for the Forth Replacement Crossing is between £1.4 billion to £1.45bn down from the previous range of between £1.45bn to £1.6bn.
In a statement, the Scottish Government said the lower cost is a result of successful management of the project and the delivery of key milestones.
A spokesman for Transport Scotland said this was down to the successful, on-budget building of the main tower structures in the Forth, which was finalised with the completion of the south tower last week following 24-hour work over 18 days.
Confirming the new cost range ahead of setting out the Budget to the Scottish Parliament on Wednesday, Mr Swinney said: “It is very positive news for Scotland to be able to announce that the Scottish Government is further reducing the budget range for the Forth Replacement Crossing project to £1.4 billion to £1.45 billion.
“Over the last few years we have taken a deliberately Scottish approach to investing in infrastructure. We are supporting an investment-led recovery in distinct contrast to the austerity agenda of the UK Government.
“Our approach has benefited the Scottish economy which is now stronger than that of the UK 90% of supply orders and nearly 60% of sub-contracts have been awarded to 365 Scottish firms and currently around 874 people are currently employed on site.
“While there is no room for complacency, these latest figures also show that Scotland’s biggest infrastructure project in a generation is being well managed.”
Scottish Conservative transport spokesman Alex Johnstone said: “What’s happening here is, as the project gets closer to completion, the overall cost becomes clearer.
“So there’s no saving at all, it’s simply homing in on the figure. Initially, the Scottish Government said the bridge would cost as little as £1.45 billion.
“Today, the Scottish Government has revealed the bridge could cost as much as £1.45 billion. To dress it up any other way is a nonsense.”