- Written by Katie Scott
- BBC Glasgow and West reporter
It’s been a year since an apparently “rusty” bridge was built on Glasgow’s busy M8 motorway.
Decades after roads divided the city, this eye-catching structure is finally reconnecting northern communities to the downtown area.
Local pedestrians and cyclists say Sighthill Bridge has “transformed” their journeys to work and university, as they no longer face long commutes.
They told BBC Scotland News they felt safer and had more pride in the area.
Local man Ramsay Sartawi, 35, said the bridge was already a landmark in the city.
“Everyone knows where the rusty bridge is,” he said. “I can’t remember the official name, but Rusty Bridge is the name.”
Ramsay Sartaoui has lived in Sighthill for several years
Sartawi said this has made life much easier for local residents.
“When we didn’t have this, we had to walk almost all the way to the west end and then either go back to Royal or go down.” [Infirmary] – quite a distance in the opposite direction,” he added.
“So it’s much more convenient to live in Springburn or Sighthill.”
Unlike other concrete bridges spanning highways, the Sighthill Bridge is constructed from Cor-ten steel, making it durable and requiring little maintenance.
Weighing approximately 1,000 tons and measuring 74 meters (80 yards) in length, the bridge features seating areas and landscaping including thousands of new plants.
It was designed to encourage more active travel in the area, with a longer south approach ramp for wheel users.
“There used to be a small bridge here, but it was not used much at night because it was very old, poorly lit and the entrance was dangerous,” Sartawi said.
“Before, it was just grass and mud around here, but now it’s just a place to sit, read a book, hang out, just because it’s a nice place to be when the weather is nice. “I started seeing people all the time,” he added.
Simon Taylor said the project had improved the look of the area.
According to Glasgow City Council, the bridge is part of the £250m regeneration of Sighthill, which will be the largest project of its kind in the UK outside London.
Plans for the area also include about 1,000 new homes and landscaping.
Simon Taylor, who lives in nearby Speirs Wharf, said his commute next to the motorway had turned into a “walk in the country”.
“It used to be a small bridge and not very nice, but all the landscaping has been restored and it’s a much more pleasant walk into town,” he said. “Everything is connected and looks better.
“In the past, there were high-rise buildings, so it’s probably better than high-rise buildings.
“There’s something going on all along the canal corridor.”
Sighthill was once home to 10 high-rise buildings and thousands of residents.
Built in the 1960s, the city council began demolishing the high-rise building as part of a regeneration project over the past 20 years.
Lauren Guthrie, who lives in Sighthill, said the bridge made her feel much safer walking home from lectures.
A 21-year-old student said: “I lived locally before moving to my new home, but the area has changed a lot. I feel much safer.”
‘Rusty Bridge’ replaced Sight Hill’s previous footbridge
“When I go home from town, I can just cross the bridge when it’s bright, but when it’s quite dark and there aren’t many people, I have to take a big detour.
“I never feel unsafe going home and there are always people around.”
Furthermore, she added: “It’s been a huge help, especially since this area used to be so deprived, you can see the difference.
“I hope they continue to invest. I’d like to see it go a little further.”
Emily Dibble, 20, a student at Glasgow Caledonian University, said she usually parks her car in Sighthill to go to lectures.
Emily Dibble used this bridge to get to lessons in the city center
“You can just park here for free and go to college,” she said. “It’s much easier and cheaper than paying for central parking.
“I live about 15 minutes away and I just recently saw it advertised when it was completed. It made things a lot easier.”
In December 2022, the £22 million Sighthill Community Campus was officially opened to combine two local primary schools and create a new nursery school for the area.
A new playpark has since been built and new housing has also been built next to the bridge at Sighthill Circus.
Residents began moving into the new housing in October 2023.
More ‘mixed ownership’ homes are planned for 2024, with allocated spaces for local residents also set to open.
A Glasgow City Council spokesperson said: “Sighthill Bridge is not only a great addition to the ongoing regeneration of Sighthill, but also a great addition to how infrastructure projects can benefit people’s lives. It is also an example of this.”
“The impressive bridge reconnects Sighthill with the nearby city centre, providing a new active travel route into north Glasgow and becoming a symbol of the area’s transformation.”
