THE final section of steel that will be used to construct the new Sighthill bridge has been delivered to Glasgow.

The landmark new cyclist and pedestrian bridge over the M8 will reconnect Sighthill to the nearby city centre.

In total, 18 sections of steel have been transported along the motorway, at night, and lifted into a temporary position for further fabrication.

Over the next three months the steel sections will be welded together to form the new bridge, which is funded by the Scottish and UK Governments through the Glasgow City Region City Deal.

With an overall span of 58 metres and a total weight of 2420 tonnes, the bridge will be fabricated on-site and then ‘driven’ down the M8 before being lifted into position by hydraulic jacks.

This will require a series of partial and full closures of the M8 later this summer.

As part of the bridge project, work has already begun on the terraced approach and plaza. When completed, this “Street in the Sky” will provide a new active travel corridor between the city centre, Sighthill and North Glasgow.

The £250million regeneration of Sighthill is the biggest such project in the UK outside of London. When complete, the neighbourhood will feature almost 1000 new homes, a new community schools campus, a new park, a new public square and public spaces, new shops and businesses, and an active travel network.

Councillor Susan Aitken, leader of Glasgow City Council and chair of the Glasgow City Region, said: “This new bridge will act as a gateway between Sighthill and Glasgow city centre, and is very much a striking symbol of the reconnection of both and the transformation of Sighthill.

"This next step in the project underlines the importance of this bridge, which will bring significant economic, environmental and social benefits to not only the reconnected Sighthill and city centre, but North Glasgow as a whole.”