The Diamond Bridge, known during planning and construction as the Third Don Crossing, is a bridge across the River Don in Aberdeen, Scotland, which opened in 2016. It is the third crossing of the river open to all traffic between the suburbs of Bridge of Don and Aberdeen City, after the Bridge of Don and Persley Bridge.
Diamond Bridge | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Coordinates | 57°10′35″N 2°07′06″W / 57.176272°N 2.118360°W |
| Carries | B988 |
| Crosses | River Don |
| Locale | Aberdeen, Scotland |
| Maintained by | Transport Scotland |
| Website | www |
| Followed by | Brig o' Balgownie |
| History | |
| Constructed by | Balfour Beatty |
| Construction start | 17 November 2014[1] |
| Construction cost | £22,000,000[2] |
| Opened | 9 June 2016[2] |
| Location | |
 | |
History edit
Proposals for a third Don crossing have been made since the 1970s.[3] The city council agreed to begin the project in 2003, and by 2004 decided on a preferred route. Construction began in November 2014[1] and the completed bridge was opened in June 2016.[2]
A worker Ian Walker was killed by an excavator during construction of the Don Crossing on 13 January 2016, an incident that led to Balfour Beatty being fined £600,000.[4]
Route edit
A new 2.4 km (1.5 mi) road connects Fairview Street in Danestone to the bridge, which then crosses to Gordon's Mills Road in Tillydrone. The crossing allows traffic from northern suburbs to reach the city centre without having to join the confluence of two of Aberdeen's busiest roads, the A92 and A96, at the Haudagain roundabout. Along with the new crossing, a streamlined "Berryden Corridor" supports the extra traffic to the city centre.[5]
References edit
- ^ a b "Construction begins on Third Don Crossing". 18 November 2014.
- ^ a b c "Aberdeen's Third Don Crossing officially opens to public". 9 June 2016.
- ^ "Aberdeen City's Access from the North Proposals (Diamond Bridge)". Aberdeen City Council. Archived from the original on 8 February 2015. Retrieved 12 August 2016.
- ^ Prior, Grant (26 February 2019). "Balfour fined £600,000 after Don Crossing death". Construction Enquirer. Retrieved 26 February 2019.
- ^ "Berryden Corridor". Aberdeen City Council. Archived from the original on 14 February 2015. Retrieved 12 August 2016.