New £6m bridge provides city link

The bridge will be open 24 hours a day Enlarge Image

Work has begun on a new £6m landmark bridge which will link Stirling city centre with the new 40-acre Forthside waterfront development.

The pedestrian bridge, which will stand 6m above the ground, will span the rail lines to the south of the city's train station.

One of the most striking features will be the illumination of the new bridge at night.

It will also be open 24 hours a day and include lifts for the disabled.

The bridge was designed by Wilkinson Eyre Architects and engineered by the team behind the Millennium Bridge in Gateshead - Gifford.

'Spectacular appearance'

Executive member for economy, councillor Margaret Brisley, said: "When we selected the winning design some time ago, we believed we had found a very special solution for Stirling and we still do.

"This is an awe-inspiring design which I'm sure local people will love and its spectacular appearance will create an attraction drawing new visitors to Stirling."

Funding for the new bridge, which is expected to take about 12 months to complete, will be met by the Scottish Executive, European Regional Development Funding and capital receipts from Forthside.

As a result of the building work, the existing rail station car park will be closed and a temporary replacement car park, which will be open 24 hours a day from next month, will be provided at Forthside.

The £110m Forthside development on former Ministry of Defence land will include more than 200 homes, new offices and restaurants, an eight-screen cinema and a four-star hotel with conference facilities.