Published on:
01
October 2008
Transport Scotland has confirmed that the new bridge crossing the Forth will be named The Clackmannanshire Bridge.
In January, thousands of local people got behind the Clackmannanshire Bridge campaign led by the Council, local and national politicians and the local business community.
The campaign has persuaded Transport Scotland and the Transport Minister Stewart Stevenson that the bridge should be named after the area which will benefit the most from its construction.
Councillor Eddie Carrick, Portfolio Holder for Sustainability, led the Council's campaign. He said: "I could like to congratulate the Minister for listening to the people of Clackmannanshire. This is a fantastic advert for people power. The Council may have led the Clackmannanshire Bridge campaign, but it received the backing of a huge proportion of the county's population who all wanted their county put on the map. I am delighted with this news and am sure that this decision will bring massive benefits to the county."
The bridge opens on Wednesday 19th November 2008.
The Clackmannanshire Bridge, coupled with the new Alloa to Stirling rail line which opened in May, are a key part of the Council's transport and economic development strategies.
While Clackmannanshire is ideally located in the central belt, transport has previously been a stumbling block for people and businesses. When the new bridge opens in 2008, Clackmannanshire will finally have direct access to Central Scotland's motorway network which will provide a valuable boost to the local economy in the east side of the county. The Clackmannanshire Bridge name will appear on road signs and maps raising the visibility of the county.