The Countdown The countdown to the millennium has completed. Railtrack Scotland sought planning permission to erect a countdown clock on the Bridge after consultation with the Forth Ports Authority and Regional Police and Local Authority Planners and Road Agencies. Permission was granted and a sign has been erected on the main central cantilever tower on Inchgarvie Island. The sign itself is 210 feet long and 25 feet high. The cost is contained within the scale of the overall refurbishment programme.
Sign launched Friday 13th, November 1998
LINK TO WEBCAM AT FORTH BRIDGE
The Floodlighting The floodlights which were erected on the Bridge for the Centenary Year by British Rail with contribution from Scottish Tourist Board are now life expired as the original design had a limited life expectancy in a marine environment. They were very much admired at the time of installation however produced a "Fairy Light" effect rather than illuminate the structure to reveal all its elements. They were designed by the Hawthorne Boyle Partnership and erected by CAN Group. Railtrack Scotland in renewing this lighting have taken cognisance of the overall refurbishment programme and in this respect engaged a world renowned Lighting Consultant from Seattle, U.S.A. who has designed a lighting concept which will provide lighting effects which will illuminate the structure to best effect whilst requiring minimal and easily carried out maintenance. This consultant, Ross de Alessi, is well known for the lighting effects he has produced for other structures such as "City of Bridges" Cleveland, Ohio a programme to light eighteen structures in the city and various municipal buildings in the U.S.A. and also work in South Africa. His world-wide reputation has gained many awards. It is the intention that the new lighting will commence when the majority of refurbishment works have been completed. The Millennium Day could well be an achievable date.
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"FAIRY LIGHT EFFECT OF OLD LIGHTING" |
"PREVIEW OF THE EFFECT OF THE NEW LIGHTING FROM A SMALL MOCK_UP " |
"CONCEPTUAL DESIGN " Ross de Alessi |
The International Symbol The Forth Bridge has for many years been a symbol of engineering excellence and an icon for Scotland. It has recently been nominated by the UK Government as a "World Heritage Site". There exists an opportunity for further promotional activity to incorporate the Bridge into the "Exhibition" scene in Scotland and further promote the structure to tourists as well as those with a dedicated interest in structures and engineering.
