Erskine Bridge

Erskine Bridge is a road crossing that spans the banks of the Clyde between Renfrewshire and West Dunbartonshire in Scotland. The steel structure reaches a total length of around 1,300 meters (about 4,300 feet) and stands roughly 45 meters (approximately 150 feet) tall, supported by a central mast system with slanted cables and a hollow beam design.

Construction started in 1967 and was formally opened by Princess Anne on July 2, 1971, replacing the ferry that previously connected both banks. The finished crossing was seen as a breakthrough for cable-stayed design in Britain at the time of its completion.

The crossing takes its name from a nearby village and now serves as an everyday link for commuters and travelers heading to Glasgow International Airport. Many drivers cross the bridge as a routine part of their journey north, unaware of the engineering effort that made it possible.

The crossing carries around 35,000 vehicles each day and remains open to traffic at all times, with no toll fees charged since 2006. Pedestrians and cyclists can use a separate path that runs alongside the traffic lanes.

When completed, the main span of 305 meters (around 1,000 feet) held the longest distance for a cable-stayed bridge with a hollow beam anywhere in the world. That record stood for several years before other similar crossings surpassed it in the 1970s.

Location: Renfrewshire

Location: West Dunbartonshire

Official opening: July 2, 1971

Height: 45 m

Length: 1,321.87 m

Longest Span: 305 m

GPS coordinates: 55.92030,-4.46222

Latest update: December 5, 2025 22:26