1999 David Livingstone Memorial Bridge

1999 David Livingstone Memorial Bridge shared by R Stewart

Pictured here in Autumn 1999 is the David Livingstone Memorial Bridge spanning the River Clyde between Bothwell and Blantyre. Robert Stewart’s photo captures the scene just before the bridge officially opened on 18th October, that same year.

It replaced the previous bridge demolished further upstream earlier that year in May. The late Blantyre historian Neil Gordon was the first pedestrian to cross the bridge whilst filming its construction. At the time Neil crossed it there were no side rails, so he had to be very careful but is said to have found it exhilarating.