Such is the Chamber’s concern that Mr Russell is urging the leaders of Scotland’s four main political parties to cast aside their political differences and push forward plans for a new road bridge.

He has written to Jack McConnell (Labour), Nicol Stephen Lib Dem), Nicola Sturgeon (SNP) and Annabel Goldie Conservative), to invite them to discuss a second bridge at a meeting in North Queensferry next month, when he will urge the politicians to act on the new crossing proposal now instead of waiting until after the Scottish elections in May.

The plea comes in the wake of new evidence from the Forth Estuary Transport Authority (FETA) on the future of the existing road bridge.

FETA argue there is a strong case for a new multi-modal crossing to be constructed without delay, based on three key factors; uncertainty over the lifespan of the existing bridge; increased maintenance requirements causing traffic disruption; and the continuing rise in demand for cross-Forth transport capacity.

The organisation’s general manager and bridgemaster Alastair Andrew is scheduled to give an in-depth presentation at the meeting on September 21.

He said, “The Forth Road Bridge now carries over 24 million vehicles a year, over double the maximum predicted by the bridge’s designers in the 1950s.

“Maintenance requirements are increasing year-on-year and, with no alternative crossing in place, disruption to traffic will only get worse.

“The problem is further compounded by corrosion. If the corrosion cannot be halted, restrictions may have to be introduced as early as 2013. Such restrictions could include the barring of HGV traffic.”

Mr Russell said, “The Forth Road Bridge is one of the main arteries of the Scottish Economy and we cannot afford for it to be severed. I call on all parties to focus on delivering a solution.”