A landmark new footbridge over the\u00a0Forth & Clyde Canal<\/a>\u00a0in Glasgow is set to permanently link three communities in the north of the city for the first time since the waterway opened in 1790<\/p>\n The project, delivered by\u00a0Scottish Canals\u00a0with funding from\u00a0Sustrans\u00a0<\/a>and the\u00a0Glasgow City Council Vacant Derelict Land Fund<\/a>, will provide a new traffic-free link between the communities of\u00a0Maryhill, Bilshochill\u00a0and\u00a0Ruchill\u00a0\u2013 as well as spectacular views over the city.<\/p>\n Cyclists and walkers currently have to use the narrow pavement of a busy and unlit road tunnel under the canal in order to move between the three communities. The new bridge will enable users to safely cross the junction on the towpath of the\u00a0Forth & Clyde Canal, opening up access to the wider\u00a0National Walking Cycling Network<\/a>\u00a0and the city centre. The design of the bridge was shaped by a\u00a0public consultation\u00a0held in the local area and online in autumn 2018.<\/p>\n As well as opening up access, it\u2019s hoped the bridge will provide a landmark for the area. The \u2018spire\u2019 of the twin-span, cable-stayed suspension bridge will tower some 100 feet over the waterway and will be lit by a state-of-the-art LED lighting system inspired by that of another modern monument of the canal \u2013\u00a0The Kelpies<\/a>, the world\u2019s largest pair of equine sculptures. It\u2019s hoped the bridge will be shining through the Glasgow night by autumn 2021.<\/p>\n On completion,\u00a0Stockingfield Bridge\u00a0will allow cyclists and walkers to travel from Glasgow to\u00a0Bowling on the Firth of Clyde\u00a0and\u00a0The Kelpies at Grangemouth\u00a0using only the safe, traffic-free routes of the towpaths.<\/p>\n Matt MacDonald<\/a>, head of infrastructure and delivery at Sustrans Scotland, said: \u201cThe Stockingfield Bridge will deliver transformative change for communities in north Glasgow<\/a>, creating an attractive place that gives many people quicker and easier access to shops, schools and National Cycle Network Route 754, which is a gateway to walking and cycle routes stretching across the country.<\/p>\n “We look forward to this new link between communities becoming a new landmark for the area and place that the three local communities can be proud of.\u201d<\/p>\n