Engineer's delight as support for Forth tunnel starts to grow

THE engineer who first proposed a tunnel as a replacement for the Forth Road Bridge today welcomed the Scottish Executive's commitment to investigate the plan.

Leading engineer John Carson said he was "delighted" that support was growing for a tunnel, which he said only strengthened his view that it was the only option to replace the ageing bridge

The Evening News reported yesterday how a four-kilometre tunnel was emerging as the favoured option among many engineering experts, politicians, motoring groups and business leaders

And just hours after the story was printed, transport minister Nicol Stephen told MSPs that the Executive was actively considering the option.

Mr Stephen said: "The Executive is committed to building a replacement crossing.

The option of a tunnel does remain open. We have had clear information in the technical assessments which have been done for the need for a new crossing."

Today, Mr Carson said that the minister's announcement proved that building a tunnel was the only way to replace the bridge - which has been affected by corrosion on its cables and could be closed to heavy goods vehicles by 2013.

He added: "This is fabulous news and it shows that a tunnel is the right solution for the Forth crossing. The fact that the Executive are looking seriously at it and the plan is gathering support among politicians and businesses is wonderful.