Locals may still get the chance to walk over the Queensferry Crossing as Transport Scotland look to plan additional opportunities for communities in the Area. 

In recent weeks families and politicians in West Fife have been putting pressure on the government agency to add a third day only open to local residents who have had to put with the work for the new bridge.

They may have got the wish because Transport Scotland are now considering what further can be done to accommodate local communities and announcements on this are expected at the start of August. 

The £1.7 billion bridge is set to open to traffic at the end of August and will then close to allow 50,000 members of the public to take part in a "once in a lifetime" chance to walk over the new bridge on September 2 and 3. 

Countless West Fifers were left disappointed when they heard two weeks ago that that they had missed out on a place and two petitions were set up racking up 7,000 signatures between them. 

The official opening of the bridge is yet to be revealed and not be expected until another few weeks. 

A Transport Scotland spokesman said: "All of the available 50,000 spaces for the Queensferry Crossing experience have now been accepted. As stated previously, just over half of the entrants to the ballot are from the most local post code areas to the Queensferry Crossing, and on that basis, as the ballot is random, we expect that these percentages will be similar in the final selection of the successful participants.  

“We have worked closely with the Community Councils of North Queensferry, Inverkeithing, Rosyth, Queensferry and District in South Queensferry, Newton and Kirkliston and will continue to work with them to ensure that in addition to having an opportunity to enter the ballot, many local school pupils, community groups and members of local communities have the opportunity to take part in the opening celebrations. Consideration is being given to what further can be done to accommodate local communities and we expect announcements on this will follow around the start of August. 

“We have also made separate allocations, out with the ballot for the Queensferry Crossing Experience, for each of the primary and secondary schools in the six Community Council areas adjacent to the project. The head teachers were advised of this last week and we have had very positive feedback from them. In addition we have allocated extra tickets to the six Community Councils and will be allocating further tickets to local groups and charities shortly.

“In addition, there will be further opportunities for local participation in the Official Opening Events, separate from the Queensferry Crossing Experience.”

Economy Secretary Keith Brown said: “The fact that in the first stage of the process, before reallocations are taken into account, a staggering 90% of people accepted their invitation to the Queensferry Crossing Experience, is further evidence of the popularity and intrigue associated with this unique structure. The public clearly recognise that this is a once in a life opportunity to get up close to a feat of engineering brilliance. There is a real sense of excitement and anticipation building ahead of the opening to traffic and walk the bridge events and we will continue to explore additional opportunities given the huge public appetite.”