In pictures: 50 years of the 'iconic' Erskine Bridge

Previously unseen pictures have been released to mark the 50th anniversary of the Erskine Bridge.

The crossing over the River Clyde was opened by Princess Anne on July 2, 1971 – becoming the first permanent link between Dunbartonshire and Renfrewshire.

Once the longest cable-stayed bridge in the world, it took four years to build at a cost of £10.5m – around £150m in today’s money.

Stuart Baird, from the Glasgow Motorway Archive, which released the pictures, said: “The Erskine Bridge remains ones of the most ambitious civil-engineering projects ever undertaken in Scotland and has become a much-loved landmark.”

Construction of the steel box girder in 1969

Completing the bridge deck in 1971

A view from the east footpath in 1971

Aerial view of the bridge in 2020

Erskine Bridge in numbers

Cost £10.5m (around £150m in today’s money)
Took four years to build
1.3km in length and 30m wide
Tallest support measures 50m
35,000 vehicles cross every day

‘An iconic landmark’

Marking the anniversary, transport minister Graeme Dey said: “The Erskine Bridge has become an iconic landmark and was, at one point, the longest cable-stayed bridge in the world.

“The crossing helped to significantly cut journey times when it opened to traffic, particularly during the busy tourist seasons. It continues to play an important role, carrying over 35,000 vehicles every day.

“The Erskine Bridge has also been listed for unique architectural and technical features, so it’s important to recognise the impact it has made in the past 50 years.”