Green Bridge Opens to Active Travel Users
The much-anticipated Green Bridge, a focal point of the Cross Tay Link Road project, was officially opened on December 2nd by Perth and Kinross Council Leader, Grant Laing, and the pupils of RDM Primary School in Scone.
The Green Bridge will reconnect existing footpaths in the forest plantation at Highfield, Scone, allowing active travel users to walk, run, cycle or horse ride, as well as providing safe passage across the link road for woodland mammals and insects.
Council Leader, Grant Laing, commented, “The environment is at the core of the CTLR project’s aims with long-term benefits including improved air quality, and the easing of traffic congestion and noise pollution, particularly in Perth city centre.
“Alongside these more obvious gains, minimising the impact of infrastructure on the environment through careful design has been a key priority and the construction of a green bridge to maintain ecological and pedestrian connectivity is an essential element in delivering on this objective.”
Derek Walsh, Contract Manager for BAM UK & Ireland, commented, “Although not a new concept entirely, there are very few green bridges in existence in Scotland and the Highfield one will certainly be one of the longest single-span green bridges on completion. The bridge is 34 metres long and, spans 27.3 metres across the new link road.
“Building a bridge on a 6° downhill slope did present additional challenges for the construction team, but now that it is complete, the curve shape of the Swiss-designed arches from BEBO offer a striking aesthetic.”
In addition to improving the active travel network, the Green Bridge is the feature location for two of the Community Artwork Projects commissioned for the project; the living bench by Artist Louise McVey sits atop the bridge, and the ‘Seasons’ mural by Shona Hardie can be spotted below the bridge, running alongside the new road.
Councillor Laing continued, “The nature-inspired artwork pieces tie in perfectly with the Green Bridge and have already attracted attention from afar. As well as providing a striking visual and focal point, the living bench also offers a peaceful resting place for active travel users – and of course, it makes a great selfie spot!”
Planting for the Green Bridge started in Spring 2023, allowing the “green” element to emerge over summer this year.
Jillian Ferguson, Roads and Infrastructure Manager for Perth and Kinross Council commented, “Originally this area was a monoculture of trees, but we have taken the opportunity to expand the biodiversity of the woodland, improving on what was there with a mix of broadleaf trees and conifers.
“In addition to this, we are creating a wildflower meadow which, as well as being low maintenance, also offers a better environment for bees, bugs and reptiles, and allows small mammals and birds to forage under cover.”
Present On Day: PKC Council Leader, Grant Laing, Councillor Jack Welch, David Littlejohn, Strategic Lead for Economy, Development & Planning at PKC, John Wilkinson, COO of BAM UK & Ireland, Louise McVey, Artist, and pupils from the Individual Service Plan (ISP) unit at RDM Primary School.
About Green Bridges
The Scottish Green Infrastructure Forum defines a green bridge as “a structure designed to allow wildlife to cross a manmade impediment, such as a road or railway line.”
There are several examples of this kind of green bridge around the world, but very few in the UK and only a handful in Scotland. The Green Bridge at Highfield plays a significant part in the landscape design objectives as laid out by Perth & Kinross Council for this project.
Green bridges – also referred to as wildlife overpasses – allow woodland mammals and insects safe passage across manmade impediments. The report “Green Bridges – A Literature Review” (NECR181), commissioned by Natural England, identified that green bridges can make an important contribution to sustainability by:
- Creating a safe crossing point for wildlife
- Joining up habitats and connecting colonies
- Providing a home for wildlife
- Creating a crossing point for people
- Facilitating movement of beneficial pollinators
- Integrating roads and railways into the surrounding landscape