Time-lapse shows Queensferry bridge being built in a flash

Work in 2014 has seen the bridge’s three towers rise to more than 90 metres in height, with the south approach viaduct now reaching 450m from the shore of the Forth.

The incredible footage shows concrete towers inching skywards and vast steel beams extending over the water of the estuary. Huge segments of road surface can also be seen being unloaded in the blink of an eye after a six-week journey from China.

Ministers have hailed the progress made in the past year, which also included the installation of 12 bridge deck ­sections made of 250 tonnes of raw steel, and the completion of a new Queensferry junction on approach to the bridge.

It was also confirmed this year that the £1.4 billion project would come in under its ­final budget, with £195 million saved from the cost expected when construction began.

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

“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 over 90 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 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.”

Construction is due to be completed in 2016.