After a six-month closure to allow for the electrification of Stirling’s railway, the ribbon on the new bridge was cut by 100-year-old Mary Cooper from nearby Linden Avenue, and fellow local resident Betty Imrie, 92, at an official ceremony earlier today.
Stirling couple Stephen Straighton and Emily Postlethwaite then had the honour of marking their wedding day as the first pair to cross the bridge by car before members of the council were joined by local residents, Network Rail staff and businesses to celebrate the event.
Initial estimates from Network Rail suggested the bridge would have to close for a full year but Stirling Council successfully negotiated that time frame down to six months from April to October to minimise disruption.
Following its reopening today - a week ahead of schedule and within budget - Councillor Jim Thomson, Convener of the Environment and Housing committee said: “I know today’s news will come as a huge relief for businesses, traders and residents as Kerse Road re-opens for traffic ahead of schedule.
“It is fitting that Mary, someone that has lived nearly all her life in Stirling over the past 100 years, was the first person across the bridge and I am delighted that Stirling is back fully open for business, just the as the Christmas rush approaches.”
For pictures and more detail on today’s re-opening ceremony, visit the Council’s official Twitter feed at https://twitter.com/StirlingCouncil
For full details on the bridge closure and re-opening, visit: https://my.stirling.gov.uk/news/view/31060
For Mary Cooper’s story visit: http://bit.ly/MaryCooper