THE Govan-Partick Bridge, built by main contractor Farrans Construction, has been formally opened.
Politicians representing the UK and Scottish Governments, as well as Glasgow City Council, were joined by local schoolchildren to celebrate completion of the £29.5million Glasgow City Region City Deal project.
The bridge re-establishes the historic connection between Govan and Partick, crossing between Water Row on the south side and Pointhouse Quay on the north.
The structure will open to the public on Saturday September 7, with community events planned on both banks of the Clyde.
The bridge is expected to bring a number of economic, environmental, and social benefits by providing a link between communities, visitor attractions, and institutions of national economic importance. The crossing also forms part of the active travel route between the University of Glasgow’s campus at Gilmorehill and the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital.
One of the longest opening pedestrian/cycle bridges in Europe, the Govan – Partick Bridge has a width of six metres and two spans. The moving span, which weighs 650 tonnes, is 99 metres-long and uses the South Pier (at Water Row) as its access; and the fixed span, which weighs 45 tonnes and is 15.7 metres-long.
In addition to the construction of the fabricated steel cable stayed opening swing bridge, the project also featured demolition of a section of masonry/concrete quay wall and access stairs at Water Row, Govan; construction of a sheet piled quay wall and infilling to finished ground level to extend Pointhouse Quay to form the north bridge landing, access ramp and public realm; construction of a reinforced concrete abutment/quay wall and infilling of the disused Govan Ferry Inlet at Water Row in Govan to form the south landing; construction of bridge approach ramps, retaining walls, provision of drainage and public realm at the north and south bridge landings; bridge and public realm statutory and feature lighting; and diversion of the Scottish Water Combined Sewer Outfall at Pointhouse Quay.
The project has been funded by both the UK and Scottish Governments.
Scottish Government minister for investment Tom Arthur said, “The opening of this bridge is welcome news, improving pedestrian and cycling access to education centres, job opportunities and visitor attractions while allowing people to save cash on travel costs and reduce emissions. We are funding the Glasgow City Region Deal to improve transport infrastructure, create thousands of jobs and unlock billions of pounds of private sector funding for Greater Glasgow.”
UK Government minister for Scotland Kirsty McNeill stated, “The opening of this magnificent bridge across Glasgow’s beloved Clyde – and joyful celebrations to follow over the weekend north and south of the water – is a powerful reminder of how vital it is to bring people and places together. It was a privilege to attend the opening of this UK and Scottish Government funded bridge. Re-establishing this historic connection between Govan and Partick will boost the economy, bond communities and support redevelopment.”
Councillor Susan Aitken, leader of Glasgow City Council and chair of the Glasgow City Region Cabinet, added, “The completion of the Govan-Partick Bridge is a significant moment for these historic communities, Glasgow and the wider city-region. The re-connection of Govan and Partick through this landmark bridge will bring local and regional economic, environmental and social benefits and help maximise the boost that the major projects being delivered between the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital and Glasgow University’s Dowanhill campus will bring.”
An interview with Farrans project manager David Buchanan will appear in the October issue of Project Scotland, in which he discusses the complex construction work involved in this landmark crossing.
