On a visit to the Forth Replacement Crossing construction site today, Mr Brown explained that the £1.35 billion bridge will open on August 30 and then close to allow the public to take part in a ‘once in a lifetime’ chance to walk over the crossing on September 2 and 3.

The bridge will transition to a motorway once the final public transport links to the north of the Forth Road Bridge are completed.

Mr Brown met with workers from both the FRC project and veterans of the construction of the Forth Road Bridge at the site today.

He said: “It is fitting to be able to make this announcement alongside some of those who built the Forth Road Bridge and those who are building the Queensferry Crossing.

“What is being achieved on the Forth today, like what was achieved 53 years ago, is a testament to the expertise and the endeavour of those who have designed and built these bridges.

“I am very pleased to be able to confirm the Queensferry Crossing will open August 30, 2017. The bridge will be used by vehicles up to September 1, before closing to allow the public the chance to walk across it as part of the Queensferry Crossing Experience on September 2 and 3.”

Michael Martin, project director for the consortium building the Queensferry Crossing, Forth Crossing Bridge Constructors (FCBC), said: “The Queensferry Crossing is one of the world’s great bridges. It’s the largest bridge of its type and its fast track design and construction has presented many challenges. The safety of our workforce, who have worked relentlessly through the hostile weather conditions in the Forth estuary to deliver the earliest completion of this project, has always been our number one priority and it will continue to be so as move towards the completion of the project.”

The Queensferry Crossing is said to be the longest three-tower, cable-stayed bridge in the world and the tallest in Britain.

Construction of the bridge, which links the Lothians to Fife, has taken almost six years.

It is intended to replace the Forth Road Bridge and will carry the M90 across the Forth.

The bridge was originally due to have opened last December, but was postponed until May this year after bad weather delayed work.

A further delay caused by poor conditions pushed the opening back further.

The final section of the 1.7mile link was lifted into place in February this year.

Since then, electrical cables and waterproofing have been installed in order to complete the structure.

Details of an opportunity for the public to walk across the new bridge were also announced today.

There are 50,000 spaces up for grabs through a ballot on the Queensferry Crossing Experience website.

Mr Brown added: “This Queensferry Crossing Experience will allow for up to 50,000 people to have the once in a lifetime chance to walk across the Queensferry Crossing before it becomes a motorway with no pedestrian access.

“In order to manage access to the bridge there will be a ballot to decide who will have this unique opportunity to be one of the 50,000 people. I would encourage as many people as possible to enter and take part.”

The ballot will open until 1200 noon on July 5.