Since construction began in 2011 much progress has been made in delivering the new crossing over the Forth, with the past year being the most visually striking on the project to date.

Highlights include:

Cabinet secretary for infrastructure Keith Brown said: “The Queensferry Crossing has really started to take its place alongside its illustrious neighbours during 2014.

“Last December, I reported that the first sections of the south approach viaduct were ready to be launched. The viaduct is now fully assembled and has been pushed out over 450 metres, with only one further pier to cross before reaching its final full length of 543 metres.

“Looking back it is hard now to remember when so little of the towers could be seen as they began to emerge from their foundations. Now they each stand over90 metres high really demonstrating the solid progress that has been made on the job.

“The towers themselves passed the level of the road deck in the summer which allowed the first four sections of the bridge deck to be placed on each tower. Meaning that 10 per cent of the cable stayed steel deck has already been put in place, as we enter the final two years of the project.

“The work of Taklift 6, a huge 125 metre tall floating crane capable of lifting 1,200 tonnes, provided another spectacular moment of engineering on this scale. In just two months the crane had put in place the temporary steel, first deck sections and the range of other equipment on each of the three main towers.

“The progress made this year really helps everyone visualise what the final bridge will look like and demonstrates an inspiring example of civil engineering coming off the drawing board and into real life.

“Currently around 1,200 people are employed on the project and their hard work and dedication, often in a very challenging environment is to be applauded as the project remains on schedule and as announced earlier this year by the First Minister is now £195 million under the original budget at the start of construction.”