TAXPAYERS have been asked to vote from a shortlist of five names for the new Forth bridge.
The £1.6 billion crossing will now be called either Caledonia Bridge, Firth of Forth Crossing, Queensferry Crossing, Saltire Crossing or St Margaret’s Crossing.
Officials whittled the names down from over 7,600 suggestions and members of the public have until June 7 this year to vote for their favourite.
Scottish Transport Minister Keith Brown – who launched the naming campaign yesterday (Mon) – said: “The Forth Replacement Crossing is the biggest infrastructure project in Scotland for a generation and the naming process has clearly captured the imagination of the public.
“I would encourage the public to continue to play their part and make the eventual winner a popular and fair choice by getting involved in the final vote.
“It is important this process is as inclusive and representative as possible. This innovative naming procedure has recently attracted international interest and praise for engaging so many people and other countries are keen to learn from our example.”
Some of the names that were refused by the panel of seven transport officials included Independence Bridge or Freedom Crossing as it was thought it would be too controversially linked with the SNP’s 2014 bid for independence.
Other than St Margaret – the wife of Scots king Malcolm III who first instituted a ferry across the Forth at Queensferry in the 11th century – the panel were against naming the bridge after famous Scots.
Well-known titles that were thrown out included William Wallace, Robert Burns, Sir Sean Connery and the Sir Chris Hoy Bridge.
Members of the public also suggested unusual names such as the Forth Road Monster, The Fenomenal Forth, Forth Road Bridge Jnr and Water Way to Go – all of which failed to make the final cut.
Anyone looking to vote can do so at www.namethebridge.co.uk
