The footbridge is the fourth and final crossing to be opened by the Hawick Flood Protection Scheme and forms part of the Active Travel Network being created across the town.

The 60-metre-long, 5-metre-wide steel structure was lifted into place earlier this year in February. This then allowed for the access works to take place at either side of the footbridge to tie into the wider Active Travel Pathways.

Soft landscaping works will conclude the works on either side of the footbridge in the coming months.

Funding for the bridge has been made possible in partnership with Sustrans and Transport Scotland’s “Places for Everyone” fund helping deliver walking, wheeling and cycling improvements across the country.

Local elected members including Clair Ramage, Watson McAteer, Stuart Marshall, Jane Cox and Neil Richards took the opportunity to inspect the finished bridge ahead of its public opening and hear directly from officers working directly on the project.

Councillor Jenny Linehan, executive member for environment and transport, said: “The installation of the Weensland footbridge, the fourth and final footbridge as part of the Hawick Flood Protection Scheme, is yet another significant milestone and one that signals the nearing of the end of the overall project.

“The amount of work undertaken over the last few years to make the town of Hawick more resilient to flooding whilst also vastly improving the infrastructure of the town is staggering and the new footbridge, which also forms part of the new active travel network, is one of the final pieces of the jigsaw.

“On behalf of all the flood scheme team I would like to thank the local community for their patience and understanding as we have undertaken this major piece of work.”