THE Queensferry Crossing has won the Greatest Contribution to Scotland award.

The project to deliver the £1.35 billion bridge was endorsed at the Saltire Infrastructure Awards, which recognise excellence and innovation in civil engineering and celebrate its improvements to our quality of life.

Entries included submissions for harbours, bridges, tunnels, motorways, distilleries, railways, public spaces and flood protection schemes.

The state-of-the-art 1.7-mile Queensferry Crossing is the longest three-tower cable-stayed bridge in the world.

It opened last year and boasts several ‘firsts’ including the world’s longest continuous underwater concrete pour and longest free-standing cantilevers.

Scottish minister Kate Forbes said: "I am of course delighted that the newest Scottish icon, the Queensferry Crossing, has been recognised for its contribution to Scotland.

"It is delivering extensive benefits to users and communities whilst safeguarding vital transport connections, helping families and businesses right across the country.”

Professor Sally Mapstone, president of the Saltire Society, said: “Civil engineers design, build and maintain the vital infrastructure on which our quality of life depends and these projects show Scotland at its best.

"The Saltire Society celebrates the Scottish imagination and talent and nowhere is this more evident than in the ‘art and science’ of civil engineering.”