IT CONNECTS the Old Town's cultural gems with mainly derelict land developers hope will eventually help breathe fresh life into Hull.
And the £6.6m footbridge, shown off to the public yesterday, takes pedestrians across the River Hull in style.
Ahead of its official unveiling, engineers chatted with visitors and explained how the bridge – the first in the UK where users can take a ride as it swings open to allow boats to pass through – was designed and built.
John Walker, 80, of Hedon, made the trip to the site, opposite Scale Lane and close to the Arctic Corsair trawler, so he could be among the very first to take a ride on the bridge.
He said: "It's very impressive and smooth. I was expecting a few vibrations when it swung open, but there was nothing. So far, it looks to have been well designed."
Mr Walker has seen plenty of change along the riverbank since he arrived in Hull for National Service in 1957.
"When I turned up all those years ago, the river was full of barges," he said.
"I would like to see some more development on the east bank. There has to be a reason for using the bridge.
"The Old Town side has some nice apartments. Perhaps developers could do the same for the east side?"
Helen and Dave Simms, of Aldbrough, were in the area to visit the Arctic Corsair and were also impressed.
Mrs Simms said: "It's an attraction and will bring more people into Old Town."
But Mr Simms said: "We just need things on the other side of the river to make people want to cross over."
Annemarie Haldenby, originally of Hull but now living in Estonia, was visiting family and could not resist taking a look at the bridge with her children, Lillian, eight, Rosemary, five, and Myles, three.
Mrs Haldenby said: "We usually stay at the Premier Inn, on the side opposite Old Town, and had seen the bridge taking shape for quite a few months. It's been really exciting to watch.
"I promised the children we would come down for the opening if it coincided with a visit to Hull."
Instead of an ordinary siren, heard on some bridges, pedestrians on this bridge hear some rather unusual sounds.
When the bridge is still, visitors hear the quaint sound of bird song, which gives way to a rhythmic sequence of ships' bells chiming when it is about to open for shipping.
No engineer was willing to talk to the media ahead of the opening, which will be attended by the Lord Mayor and other dignitaries, on Friday, June 28.
But a council spokesman confirmed the bridge would be swung open on key dates, such as bank holidays and selected weekends, in addition to moving for shipping.
Designed by international architects McDowell and Benedetti and built by Qualter Hall, the bridge was constructed in sections and fitted together.
