Finish line
dignitaries, Network Rail officials and media.
Mrs Cooper, who attended the event with her daughter Sheila Brown and son-in-law David, thought the new bridge was “wonderful”.
And before leaving for a well-earned cuppa, she told how early last century her father-in-law John Cooper was for five years stationmaster at Stirling.
Betty attended the event with her daughter Linda Masterson.
A new structure had to be built because the old, 50-year-old Stirling Council-owned bridge could not accommodate power lines now erected as part of the electrification of the Stirling area road network.
Network Rail – who paid £7million towards the cost of the replacement with Stirling Council contributing £1million – said at first the work would take 12 months.
That prompted an outcry from residents and the city business community concerned about the economic and tourism impact of the closure of the bridge which carries 22,000 vehicles a day and is a key city centre artery.
However, following the Observer’s `Keep Stirling Moving’ petition, which attracted 1000 signatories, the construction period was halved to six months and Kerse Road was fully closed in April as replacement work began in earnest.
Network Rail contractors Morgan Sindall carried out the work which is not expected to be fully completed until early next year when further utility work will be finished.
Stirling Council Leader Scott Farmer thanked residents for their patience during the road closure and believed disruption to business had been kept to a minimum.
He said: “We now have a bridge that has a lifespan of 130 years and electrical connectivity in terms of the transport system which means faster and more efficient trains.
“And it has also meant a significant saving for the Stirling Council taxpayer because the old bridge only had 30 to 40 years of life left and it would have cost us £12.5million to replace.”
Community planning and regeneration convener Chris Kane said: “You don’t appreciate the value of any piece of civil engineering until it closes.
“To have it re-opened after six months, ahead of schedule, is nothing short of remarkable. If you have cash to spend this Christmas, Stirling is re-opened for business – Stirling is re-connected.”
Stirling BID director Jon Walton admitted the closure had impacted on footfall throughout the city centre but added: “These works are essential to improving the connectivity of Stirling by rail, and it is worth noting the efforts made to communicate both the alternative routes into the city and also that the city was very much still `open for business’.”
Thistle Centre Director Gary Turnbull said: “As with any major infrastructure upgrades, a level of disruption has been inevitable. However, the road traffic management systems implemented have proved effective in keeping this disruption to a minimum and the reduction of the closure from 12 months to six months is to be commended.”
Network Rail project manager Kenny McDonald said it had been a difficult job involving the complete replacement of the bridge including its supports
“We worked with stakeholders to develop a methodology to reduce the closure to six months,” he added.
“It is a fantastic achievement for the project team to deliver the structure entirely after six months and open both ways to all classes of vehicles.”