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
Coordinates57°10′35″N 2°07′06″W / 57.176272°N 2.118360°W / 57.176272; -2.118360
CarriesB988
CrossesRiver Don
LocaleAberdeen, Scotland
Maintained byTransport Scotland
Websitewww.aberdeencity.gov.uk/transport_streets/roads_pavements/transport_projects/lap_AccessNorth_Home.asp
Followed byBrig o' Balgownie
History
Constructed byBalfour Beatty
Construction start17 November 2014[1]
Construction cost£22,000,000[2]
Opened9 June 2016[2]
Location
Map

History

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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

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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

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  1. ^ a b "Construction begins on Third Don Crossing". 18 November 2014.
  2. ^ a b c "Aberdeen's Third Don Crossing officially opens to public". 9 June 2016.
  3. ^ "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.
  4. ^ Prior, Grant (26 February 2019). "Balfour fined £600,000 after Don Crossing death". Construction Enquirer. Retrieved 26 February 2019.
  5. ^ "Berryden Corridor". Aberdeen City Council. Archived from the original on 14 February 2015. Retrieved 12 August 2016.