Making the case for the Queensferry Crossing

When planning was underway for the new £1.35bn Queensferry Crossing, census data was used to help make decisions on its need, location and size.

Stephen Cragg from Transport Scotland said: “The Forth Road Bridge was built in 1964 but, in spite of investment since then, it has suffered significant deterioration.

”Although it was possible to fix the bridge, it was decided that a new crossing was the most viable option."

Stephen continued: “This decision was informed, in part, by census data and based on how much disruption the repairs would cause to travellers and the economy."

Planners consulted census data about what type vehicles households own, how people travel to work or study and general information about population levels.

Once the decision for a new crossing had been made, census data went on to help inform the decision-making on where the crossing should be and how much capacity it should have.

And census information is still helping planners forecast how travel behaviour may change in years to come.

Stephen added: “Census information not only helped with planning the Queensferry Crossing but also informs the wider work on the surrounding transport network and the use of all the three bridges to connect the communities on both sides of the Forth.

“As a result, both local and longer-distance travellers will feel the benefits of this new crossing for years to come.”