Union Street, Aberdeen
Coordinates: 57°08′42″N 2°06′11″W / 57.145°N 2.103°W
Union Street is a major street and shopping thoroughfare in Aberdeen, Scotland. It is named after the Acts of Union 1800 with Ireland.
Union Street was built to relieve the strain of the small, cramped streets that caused problems for people coming into the city. It was built higher than the old town and was designed to include the five entrances from the city: Queens Road - Rubislaw from Hazelhead; George Street from Inverurie and Morayshire; King Street from the north from Bridge Of Don, Peterhead and Fraserburgh; Market Street, which leads to the fishing town of Torry; and Holburn Street to the Ruthrieston and Garthdee areas.
The street was designed in the beginning of the 19th century under plans suggested by Charles Abercrombie and nearly bankrupted the city. The Denburn River still runs under Union Bridge but has been covered over by a dual carriageway road.
The street is approximately one mile long (0.8 miles) and a feat of engineering skill involving the partial levelling of St. Catherine's Hill and the building of arches to carry the street over Putachieside.
The Denburn Valley was crossed by Union Street by Union Bridge (constructed 1801–05), which has a single span arch of 130 feet (40 m).
There are long-term plans to pedestrianise Union Street from Union Terrace to Castlegate.
Some of the large shops on or accessed directly from Union Street are Marks and Spencer (on St. Nicholas Street), HMV, Waterstones, Mostyn Mckenzie, Cruise, AllSaints, Lakeland, Debenhams (in the Trinity Centre) and Sports Direct.
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