The new £22.3million Third Don Crossing will be named Diamond Bridge, as chosen by pupils in two neighbouring primary schools.
Aberdeen City Councillors agreed the name at yesterday’s (Tuesday, May 17) Communities, Housing and Infrastructure Committee after pupils at Danestone and Riverbank Schools were asked to vote for their preferred bridge name from an approved shortlist.
Aberdeen City Council Transport and Regeneration Spokesman Councillor Ross Grant said: "We would like to thank pupils at Danestone and Riverbank schools for taking the time to vote for their favourite name – we think it is an excellent choice.
“This bridge will serve the next generation of drivers coming to the city, so it is fitting that it has been named by future generations.”
The name Diamond Bridge was chosen to mark the Queen’s 60 years on the throne but there were several other options in the running including; New Grandholme, to recognise the existing Grandholme bridge, Elphinstone Bridge, after William Elphinstone (1431-1514) Bishop of Aberdeen and founder of Aberdeen University, Gordon Bridge – honouring the Highlanders – or the Third Don. Other names included Gordon Mills, Marischal, the Cruvies or St Machar’s.
The Third Don Crossing project requires the construction of two major structures, an 85ft skew span reinforced concrete bridge over the Mill Lade at Grandholm Village and a 295ft span steel box girder bridge over the River Don.