WORK is set to get underway on the next stage of Glasgow’s £115 million avenues programme.
The wider project looks to create a network of attractive, accessible, safe, sustainable, and easily-maintained avenues throughout the city centre that are people-focused, encourage active travel, and are more attractive to people.
Set to get underway later this month, the latest phase of works will focus on Holland Street and will bring an avenue of new trees along the western footway of the street, as well as four new trees on the southern footway of West Regent Street.
Wider footways – surfaced with Caithness stone and granite kerbs – will also feature throughout to create a more attractive environment for pedestrians, as well as a two-way segregated cycleway on Pitt Street between Sauchiehall Street and Waterloo Street, and soft landscaping incorporating drainage and rain gardens on West Regent and West George Streets.
Altogether, the Holland Street Avenue will bring over 4,000 square metres of new public realm to the city centre, with 1,035 sq m of new walkways, 550 metres of enhanced road network, 535 metres of new cycle track, 327 sq m of new green infrastructure, and 11 upgraded junctions. Work is expected to be completed in summer 2024.
Councillor Susan Aitken, leader of Glasgow City Council and chair of the Glasgow city region cabinet, said, “The work on the Holland Street Avenue will improve the streets here, creating a more attractive environment and making it easier for people to get around, so encouraging active travel. The soon to begin construction of this Avenue complements the significant changes taking place in this part of the city centre, including the building of hundreds of new homes.”
Scottish Government business minister, Ivan McKee, added, “The Avenues programme is redesigning the city’s streets, including Holland Street Avenue, to make them more inviting for people while prioritising space for cyclists, pedestrians and public transport. I welcome this progress as part of the Glasgow city region city deal.”
UK Government minister for Scotland, Malcolm Offord, added, “It’s great news that work on Holland Street Avenue is set to begin. This will provide businesses and residents with eco-friendly active travel and transport routes, while soft landscaping and rain gardens will improve drainage and help the city to adapt to climate change. The UK Government is investing £50 million in Glasgow’s most iconic streets and public spaces as part of our £523 million support for the Glasgow City Region Deal, which is levelling up the region’s communities.”
