247,000 users for Diamond Bridge in first month

NEARLY a quarter of a million journeys have been made on Aberdeen’s new “Diamond Bridge” since the £22.3 million crossing opened last month.

The council said 240,772 vehicles, 2,798 cyclists, and 4,272 pedestrians have used the bridge since it opened to the public on June 9, six months behind schedule.

Since then the average daily traffic has included 7,767 vehicles, 87 bikes and 134 people crossing on foot.

The bridge, currently known as the Third Don Crossing, has been built to ease congestion on the city’s Bridge of Don and Persley Bridge.

It links Bridge of Don and Tillydrone and is to be named the Diamond Bridge following a vote by school children, who selected the title – commemorating the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee and Aberdeen’s historic ties with HMS Diamond – from a shortlist.

An official naming ceremony is to be held for the bridge at a later date.

The development is part of a £516m of capital investment over the next five years by Aberdeen City Council.

Council leader Jenny Laing said: “I am pleased to see so many people are making use of the crossing, which transforms getting around the north of the city, particularly for people who live in the areas nearby.

“It is also good the crossing is being used regularly by cycling and pedestrians for their commute, and also that people are using it for relaxing at the weekend by going for a stroll or cycle by the river, with all the wildlife you can see from the bridge.

“The new crossing is helping to alleviate congestion by taking traffic away from the other two main crossings.”