School community learn about third Don crossing road changes
08 June 2016
Pupils at a city school today (Weds 8 June) learned how their daily journeys will change on the eve of the opening of the £22.3million third Don crossing which will transform connectivity in Aberdeen for residents, visitors and commuters.
The event this afternoon gave pupils, parents and staff at Riverbank School in Tillydrone an opportunity to view displays showing how the road layout has changed in the area around the school.
The maps on show highlighted where pupils can cross safely on their way to and from school, and the youngsters were reminded to pay attention to traffic changes when walking or cycling in the area.
Aberdeen City Council Transport and Regeneration spokesman Councillor Ross Grant said: “Like many local residents and commuters from both sides of the River Don, the community around Riverbank School will notice a big difference in getting around their part of the city when the bridge opens tomorrow.
“Through discussions and work with community partners, we’ve been committed throughout to ensuring that mitigation is in place. This event gives us a great chance to talk to pupils, staff and parents about how changes to the local roads will have an impact on their journeys to and from school and to make sure that pupils know the best route to take.”
The £22.3million third Don crossing is the biggest bridge infrastructure project in Aberdeen in the last 30 years.
A new single carriageway link road has been constructed between the Parkway/Whitestripes Road junction and the Tillydrone Avenue/St Machar Drive junctions, including the construction of the new bridges.
Pupils from the two local primaries, including Riverbank School and Danestone School, chose Diamond Bridge as the name for the third Don crossing, which will officially open tomorrow (Thursday 9th June).
The chosen name reflects the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee in 2012 and the Royal Family’s close connections with Aberdeen and the surrounding area. There is also a connection to HMS Diamond, an 8,500-tonne Royal Navy Type 45 destroyer which is twinned with Aberdeen. There will be a separate official naming ceremony in due course.
The third Don crossing is one of several major infrastructure projects that Aberdeen City Council has invested in, including the AWPR, the A96 Park and Choose and Airport Link Road and the Berryden Corridor, which are all designed to work together to help make traffic flow around the city better.