The Queensferry Crossing’s speed limit will rise to 70mph from Tuesday.
The work required to ensure the £1.35 billion bridge can operate at this limit has been completed.
Transport Minister Humza Yousaf said: “It is pleasing to be able to deliver on our commitment to have a 70mph speed limit on the Queensferry Crossing before the end of December.
“All of the work that was required in order to make this move has been successfully completed and the bridge will have a speed limit of 70mph from tomorrow.”
A consultation is running to discuss the designation of the bridge and its connecting roads as a motorway, as is normal in these circumstances.
Once this process is complete in the new year, motorway regulations will come in to force.
In addition, the Intelligent Transport System is on schedule to be operational in the new year across the entire scheme.
In advance of these final steps, a guide will be published to provide information for all users.
This will include the ITS, road layout and which vehicles can and cannot use the Queensferry Crossing and Forth Road Bridge once the regulations come into force.
While the road layout is self-explanatory for motorists the guide is intended to give the full variety of drivers of different vehicle classes the information they’ll need to plan their journeys over the Forth.
Mr Yousaf added: “Since the initial study in 2007 the objective of this project has been to provide a replacement for the Forth Road Bridge.
“As such the Queensferry Crossing does not increase capacity over the Forth and we still expect congestion at peak times.
“We hope the move to a 70 mph speed limit will assist the scheme in operating as it was designed and has a positive impact on overall journey times.
“The new bridge provides a more resilient crossing for business and communities as shown during Storm Caroline, when the bridge remained open to HGVs and buses, where the Forth Road Bridge would have had restrictions in place.
“This ensured we avoided any lengthy delays and diversions across the Forth and associated impacts on the surrounding local roads.
“In the new year motorway regulations and the public transport corridor will come into force, as well the Intelligent Transport System becoming fully operational.
“As the entire scheme comes online the original aims of encouraging public transport use, increasing safety and smoothing traffic will begin to be realised.”
