A group of pupils from a city school have visited the site of the new £22.3million third Don crossing to find out about the biggest bridge infrastructure project in Aberdeen in the last 30 years just days before it opens.
The eight pupils and two staff from Northfield Academy were given a tour of the site, which has required the construction of two major bridges, with the first being a 26m skew span reinforced concrete bridge over the Mill Lade at Grandholm Village and the second a 90m span steel box girder bridge over the River Don.
The project includes 1.5 miles of new roads on both sides and also includes new cycleways and paths. An opening ceremony for the third Don crossing is to be held on Thursday 9 June and the pupils were keen to view the almost-finished structure before then.
Pupils from the school, as well some from St Machar Academy, have visited the site since work started on it in August 2014, learning about the civil engineering and project management from staff from both Aberdeen City Council and the main contractor Balfour Beatty.
Northfield Academy headteacher Neil Hendry said: "Northfield Academy has a long-standing partnership with Balfour Beatty which has given a number of our pupils the opportunity to experience construction up close and our pupils have visited the crossing various times since it began and have seen the bridge being built.
“They really enjoyed the latest visit to the third Don crossing as it nears completion and appreciated the time given to them by Balfour Beatty’s staff.”
St Machar Academy Acting Head Teacher Jim Purdie said: “With the project happening on our doorstep, it’s been a fantastic and truly unique opportunity for pupils with an interest in photography to experience capturing a live construction project and document its progress at all stages.
“On a recent visit, the pupils were particularly excited at being amongst the first members of the public to cross over the new bridge.”
An Aberdeen City Council spokeswoman said: “People living and working on both sides of the River Don will see a big difference in getting around their part of the city and transform city connectivity for other city residents, visitors and commuters.
“Even thought they’re not directly beside the bridge, the Northfield Academy and St Machar pupils will be of a generation which will reap the benefits of all the new infrastructure projects around Aberdeen.
“The third Don crossing is one of several major infrastructure projects we have 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.”