"The Executive has shown astonishing recklessness. Having previously said it would wait until all the research it commissioned had been completed, ministers now appear to have jumped the gun and given the go-ahead for a second bridge.

"Ministers commissioned five reports and have so far seen only interim findings - so this commitment to a second bridge is hardly an informed decision.

“The fact that these findings were on traffic levels shows that the real demand is for an additional crossing to double road capacity.

“The road lobby has been arguing in favour of increasing capacity for the last 30 years, recently resorting to scaremongering that the existing bridge is about to fall into the river - and Labour, LibDems and the SNP have all caved in.

"Waiting for the final results of the studies would have allowed for informed debate and a decision based on facts, not electioneering.

“If the studies show that the existing bridge is nearing the end of its life, a replacement will of course be needed, but having two bridges across the Forth will simply massively increase congestion and divert money away from public transport alternatives."