Scotland’s newest bridge set for official launch with spectacle of light

Preparations are well underway for a special event to be held in North Glasgow next month to celebrate the official opening of Scotland’s newest bridge.

Communities from across the area will gather at Stockingfield Bridge on Saturday, December 3 to take part in a lighting spectacle.

The £14m active travel bridge, built over the Forth & Clyde Canal, opened to users for the first time earlier this month and will reconnect three communities, Ruchill, Maryhill and Gilshochill, for the first time since 1790.

Residents and active travellers will take to the canal’s towpath, carrying lanterns, to mark the moment the new destination is officially opened.

The event will see people arrive by bike, boot and boat to the stunning steel structure where for the first time the Stockingfield Spire will be lit up into the night visible from across Glasgow’s skyline.

A procession, which will be led by Glasgow-based art group, Carnival Arts, will take place from four separate meeting points; canal towpath under Ruchill Street Bridge, canal towpath at Lock 21, canal towpath at Lambhill Stables, and Stockingfield Bridge Brassey Street entrance, at 4pm prompt, who will make their way onto the bridge.

In addition, lights will be fitted to standard and non-standard bikes as well as paddleboarders.

Throughout the evening there will also be music, a light show and those in attendance will be entertained by fire and aerial performers.

Scottish Canals, Chief Operating Officer, Richard Millar said: 

“Fourteen years after we first developed the concept with the local community, we were delighted to be able to open this amazing new bridge to the public.

“We are excited to bring these communities together next month and celebrate what promises to be another historic moment in the history of Scottish Canals.”

Minister for Active Travel Partick Harvie said: 

“The opening of the Stockingfield Bridge is a landmark moment. Not only in reconnecting communities across the north of Glasgow – but as a signal of the heightened ambitions Scotland now has to build an active nation and make it easier for people to walk, wheel and cycle.

“For most, it makes it easier to get around their community for those shorter day to day journeys, but it’s also really significant that we now have an uninterrupted active travel route from Bowling all the way to Edinburgh for people to enjoy.

“The Scottish Government has provided over £13 million to deliver the project here at Stockingfield and I’m enthusiastic about similar transformation in communities across the country. That’s why the Scottish Government has now committed to investing at least £320 million, or 10% of the total transport budget on active travel by 2024-25. Through this record investment, we’ll help build a more active nation, where more people enjoy greater opportunities to walk, wheel and cycle for everyday journeys.”

Julie Murray, Director of Carnival Arts said: 

“We are delighted to join with Scottish Canals to help shine a light on Stockingfield Bridge. We already have a number of community groups who can’t wait to get involved in what’s going to be an amazing community celebration.”

Anyone interested in attending the event are encouraged to bring their own lantern/light and travel to the area by boot or bike.

Community engagement has been at the heart of the project with locals shaping the structures surroundings through artwork. In total nine pieces are being installed on site from a 121-metre mythical serpent called a Beithir in Gaelic folklore, to interpretation boards exploring the area’s past and present.

The national infrastructure project and associated artworks have been funded by Transport Scotland through Sustrans Places for Everyone programme, Scottish Government, Glasgow City Council’s Vacant Derelict Land Fund and SCAPE.