A new phase in the restoration of Glasgow’s George Square is set to get underway as the project reaches the halfway point.
Scheduled for completion in August, work will begin next week on the installation of new granite surfaces on the road along the north side of the square.
New footways outside the City Chambers and along to Queen Street Railway Station were completed over the festive period, with work to transform the pavement area on the western side of George Square is expected to conclude by February.
Within the square itself, the reconstruction of the statue plinths in their new positions has concluded, while the specialist restoration of the statues continues.
The project forms part of the wider £120 million avenues programme, with Glasgow City Council adding that the majority of projects within the programme will be completed by the first half of 2026.
Billed as the ‘biggest city centre upgrade since the pedestrianisation of Buchanan Street in the 1970s’, the local authority said that the avenues are already complementing new commercial and residential developments either recently completed or under construction.
Councillor Angus Millar, Glasgow City Council city centre convener, said, “This is the year when Glaswegians are going to see major changes to the city centre and the emergence of the international-quality public spaces they deserve. By summer, 10 of the 16 avenues making up the programme will have been completed, including several key routes into town and the western section of Argyle Street.
“Take a walk to the most recently completed avenues around Pitt Street and Holland Street and you’ll already see how they’re creating a more European-style environment. That’s more attractive to residents and visitors but also creates much better conditions for the investment which is coming into the city. And crucially, we’re now only eight months from the completion of the new George Square, with a visible escalation of works getting underway on Monday.
“Glaswegians can already get a taster of the look and quality of what’s to come with the new granite footways along the north, east and west of the square which are already open to the public.”
The last remaining sections of the Argyle Street west avenue are expected to be finished in March, while the Duke Street and John Knox Street avenues, alongside the Cowcaddens Road and Dobbies Loan projects, are due for completion in April. The South Portland Street avenue is scheduled to be completed the following month.
The North Hanover and Kyle Street Avenues are due for completion this November, while work on the avenues covering the eastern section of Argyle Street, as well as High Street, Stockwell Street and George Street is scheduled to get underway by the end of this year.
Councillor Millar added, “Creating the city centre for the next century will inevitably involve a level of disruption and contractors and council staff will continue to engage with businesses and residents where they may be affected. But as this year progresses and that transformation becomes clear I’m sure our citizens will agree it’ll have been worth it.”
