I drove across Perth's New Kingsway and Destiny Bridge – here's my verdict

THERE’S always something a bit special about a bridge opening. All of a sudden there’s a link between communities that was not there before, bringing it with access to opportunities and often making people’s daily lives a lot easier.

On Monday the New Kingsway and Destiny Bridge were opened in Perthshire, providing a vital link over the River Tay connecting the A9, A93 and A94, which it is hoped will relieve congestion in Perth city centre and improve the air quality there.

Both parts of this £150 million project were named by local schoolchildren in honour of the area’s iconic history. Nearby Scone Palace was where Scottish kings were once crowned while the Stone of Destiny, used in the coronation of Scottish monarchs, now sits in the new Perth Museum.

It was brilliant to be part of another bit of history for this area when I attended the opening of the new bridge. We were honoured with blue skies and so the river twinkled as First Minister John Swinney made his way across the bridge alongside three-time Commonwealth silver medallist Eilidh Doyle – who was born in Perth – and council leader Grant Laing before cutting the ribbon.

(Image: Fraser Band) They were followed by a clan of runners, walkers and primary school children before the ribbon was proudly cut by the First Minister, who described this as a “significant” moment for Perth and Kinross. He would know more than anyone having represented the area as an MSP for a quarter of a century.

Getting the chance to drive over the Destiny Bridge before it was opened to the public was exciting, though I can’t say my Mazda 3 looked quite as shiny as the racing green Aston Martin that drove over moments before. Still, in 20 years time, I’ll look at that bridge and remember I was one of the first to drive over it, which I find quite cool.

(Image: Fraser Band) Having experienced the congestion in Perth on the way over from Glasgow, this new crossing will surely ease that traffic that builds up in rush hour and around events held at Perth Racecourse, which a local man told me clog up the city centre horrendously when they take place.

For residents in Perth city, it should relieve some of the hustle and bustle from their lives and, in the longer term, deliver major health benefits from reduced air pollution.

Alongside the Destiny Bridge and New Kingsway, the project includes a 12km active travel path network – one of the largest active travel corridors in Scotland – connecting the neighbouring communities with Perth city centre.

The path network connects a central hub at a new park-and-choose area, and incorporates a green bridge (pictured below) to separate active travel users and wildlife from the road.

(Image: NQ) I was a particular fan of the living bench on top of the green bridge, which will eventually having a tree coming out of it to shade people from the sun while they gaze at the glorious rolling Perthshire hills. They are something when there isn’t a cloud in the sky.

It was mentioned more than once this was a project delivered on time and on budget – phew! – and spearheaded by Perth and Kinross Council, something that is to be commended at a time when budgets are incredibly tight.

There was clearly excellent vision and dedication that went into this project and here’s hoping it allows visitors to explore the county by foot, bike and car more easily and bring a better quality of life for those who call it home.