The
Forth road bridge is much more recent than the rail bridge. Construction
began in 1958. When it was opened in 1964 the Forth Road Bridge was the
longest suspension bridge in Europe and the fourth longest in the world.
It took less time to build (6years instead of around 10) and is much cheaper
to maintain. Far less of it needs parinting than the rail bridge. The
bridge used some 39,000 tons of steel (about two thirds the amount used
in the Forth Rail Bridge). What would happen if there were no cables?