There are concerns that a second bridge will increase traffic.

Residents from South Queensferry have handed in a 400-signature petition to the Scottish Government.

They are concerned that creating a new bridge or tunnel will simply double the amount of traffic crossing the Forth rather than tackling congestion.

However, the government said it needed to act now because of concerns over the future viability of the bridge.

Finance Secretary John Swinney has warned that the project could end up costing the taxpayer about �3bn.

The petition asks ministers to wait for the publication of a detailed report on the state of the current bridge before making a decision.

Preliminary findings published in June revealed that the corroding main cables could be repaired or replaced.

South Queensferry is a small village that is already blighted by heavy traffic Bruce Whitehead South Queensferry resident

Bruce Whitehead, local resident, said: "South Queensferry is a small village that is already blighted by heavy traffic from the existing Forth Road Bridge and from a new road."

"People are concerned that another bridge will double the amount of traffic congestion in what is already a busy area."

A Scottish Government spokeswoman said: "Concerns over the future viability of the existing bridge mean that we need to act now to protect the future of cross-Forth travel."

She said there was no clear timetable or "absolute assurance" on work that could be done on the existing crossing.