First of the Footbridges Installed

The Victoria Footbridge is the first of three new bridges to arrive in the town as part of the new Hawick Active Travel Network. The 2.5 metre wide footbridge was installed between Commercial Road and Teviot Crescent on Monday 26th July, replacing the previous structure installed in 1991 which had been removed earlier this year in March.

A 750t mobile hydraulic crane arrived on site early Monday morning followed by four artic lorries which delivered the associated infrastructure required to set up and weigh down the crane in its location. McLaughlin & Harvey co-ordinated the bridge lift which commenced shortly after 1pm and the bridge was in place by 1.25pm.

The new steel footbridge is only one part of the reconfigured and reengineered crossing of the River Teviot between the Wee Haugh and Commercial Road and stands at 34 metres long. The steel structure of the new footbridge was manufactured by Briton Fabricators Ltd and the associated new concrete abutments, access ramps and steps are all being constructed by McLaughlin & Harvey.  

In 2019, the Project Team carried out a survey during the Community Vision Working Group No. 7 where the attendees were given the choice between grey or green for the colour of the bridge. At this meeting, it was decided that the bridges would be green fitting nicely in with the town’s ‘Hawick Green.’

The official opening of the new Victoria Footbridge is still to be confirmed and will be communicated to the public as soon as it is determined. On the horizon is the installation of the new Mansfield Footbridge which will arrive in the town late August, followed by new Lawson Footbridge in late September.

Please view below the timelapse camera footage of the Victoria Footbridge Installation.