While Scotland’s iconic Forth Road Bridge no longer accommodates cars, the crossing is set to carry ultrafast internet traffic to the historic town which lies in its shadow.

Openreach Scotland Board Chair, Katie Milligan, says the “once in a generation engineering task” will bring the iconic landmark and UNESCO world heritage site into a new digital era.

Today (Wednesday 23^rd June), Openreach engineers will use a giant air compressor to blow a continuous, 3km stretch of glass fibre right across the Bridge at speeds of up to 60 metres per minute.

The process is peak of a two-week project which has seen engineers work in enclosed steel tunnels under the Bridge’s footpaths to prepare ducts for the new fibre link.

Openreach said the “unique engineering challenge” has been six months in the planning.

The new 16mm fibre cable – containing tiny glass fibres a tenth the size of a human hair – will deliver gigabit-capable internet services to thousands of residents and businesses on the south side of the Forth.

Work on the new network has already started in South Queensferry, which is one of more than 260 communities across Scotland set to benefit from Openreach’s nationwide full fibre upgrade.

Katie Milligan, Chair of Openreach’s Scotland Board, commented: “This is a unique moment for civil engineering in Scotland as two huge infrastructure projects come together.

“We’re building a new ultrafast digital highway – and going across the Forth Road Bridge is the fastest, most direct way to get it done.”

Milligan added: “It’s impossible to join up spans of fibre on the Bridge, so it has to be done in one long piece. It’s amazing to think that these tiny fibres will future-proof the internet for thousands of homes and businesses on the south side of the Bridge for decades to come.

“This is a once-in-a-generation engineering task to make broadband fit for the future, and we’re proud to be literally bridging the digital divide across this iconic landmark.”

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In addition to the work on the bridge, engineers have built another 2km of fibre to the north approach, with the new network linking back to the main fibre hub in Inverkeithing, Fife.

Milligan said: “As we saw during lockdown, good connectivity reduces pressures on our road network, and can cut emissions, by giving many Scots the ability to work where they live.

“It’s great to see the iconic Forth Road Bridge play a part in a new, digital era which, like the Bridge itself, will serve Scotland for generations.”