Govan–Partick Bridge

View in October 2023 looking towards Govan, with the swing bridge main span aligned for ships to pass.
Govan–Partick Bridge crowded on first day of public use, seen from Govan Old Walkway

The Govan-Partick Bridge is a new bridge in Glasgow, Scotland, to carry pedestrians and bicycles across the River Clyde, connecting Water Row in Govan to Pointhouse Quay in Partick, close to the Riverside Museum.[1][2] To allow ships including PS Waverley to pass by, its swing bridge main span can rotate to align with the south shore.[3] The official opening ceremony on 6 September 2024 was followed by public access from the next day, when crowds celebrated with community events on both sides of the river.[2]

The 110-metre (361-foot) bridge[4] with its 8 m (26 ft) wide deck has step-free access, to carry bicycles, pedestrians, wheelchairs and buggies between Govan south of the river and Partick to the north.[3][5] The V-shaped pylon design is inspired by the historic cranes at the riverside. It is one of the largest opening footbridges in Europe.[4]

The work is intended to improve the economic conditions in Govan (which is a deprived area of the city) and is linked to the University of Glasgow and Glasgow City Council-led 'West End Innovation Quarter'. The bridge lands at Water Row in Govan where a mixed use development of housing and commercial space is planned.

History

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Bridge on pontoon towed by tug Elisa, off Kilcreggan

The bridge cost £29.5million. It was funded through the Glasgow City Region City Deal, a pot to which the UK and Scottish Governments each provided £500m, and local authorities provided a further £130m.[6] The Glasgow City Council led project was expected to start in 2020, with the bridge to open in summer 2021.[4] In February 2020, the final plans for the bridge were revealed with an updated opening year of 2022.[7] After further delays, construction finally began in January 2022, and opened on 6 September 2024.[8]

The cafe on the second floor of the Riverside Museum has had a clear unobstructed view over the northern approach works area at the mouth of the River Kelvin to the site of the new bridge.[9]

At Greenock Ocean Terminal, water jet display by CMS Wrestler

The bridge was built in Belgium, taken by canal to Westdorpe in the Netherlands, where the pylon and cabling was installed. It was loaded onto HEBO Maritiemservice pontoon Hebo-P84, and from 7 to 13 October towed by tug Elisa to the Firth of Clyde. They were met at the Tail of the Bank by Clyde Marine Services tugs CMS Wrestler and Bruiser. Delivery was postponed due to strong gusting wind, and the vessels stayed at Greenock Ocean Terminal overnight.[10]

Bridge works area at Yorkhill Quay, seen from tall ship Glenlee – tugs Avontuur 2 and Elisa next to floating sheerleg crane Hebo-Lift 10, with pontoon Hebo-P84 behind the cane ship.

On 14 October the tugs towed the crane on its pontoon up the River Clyde into Glasgow,[11] to Pointhouse Quay just upriver from the museum. They moored the pontoon just past floating sheerleg crane Hebo-Lift 10 which was already there, along with the small tug Avontuur 2. On 17 October the floating sheerleg crane lifted the moving main span of the bridge into place on its pivot in front of Water Row, Govan, leaving it aligned with the shore so that the Clyde remains open to shipping.[12] Site work continued. The connecting fixed span, still on the pontoon, was taken away for storage, then installed in the summer of 2024 once the north pier and approach path works were sufficiently complete.[13]

August 2024 view of the fixed span connected to Pointhouse Quay, seen from PS Waverley which was built at the adjacent Pointhouse shipyard.

The bridge opened on 7 September 2024.

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "Govan Partick Charrette". www.govanpartick.com. Retrieved 25 October 2018.
  2. ^ a b Carmichael, Josh (15 August 2024). "Opening date revealed for new Govan-Partick Bridge". The Herald. Retrieved 5 September 2024.
  3. ^ a b McKay, Gabriel (8 July 2024). "Everything you need to know about the new Govan-Partick bridge". Glasgow Times. Retrieved 6 September 2024.
  4. ^ a b c Dalziel, Magdalene (30 January 2019). "Plans revealed for new Govan-Partick bridge after council gives green light". glasgowlive. Retrieved 29 April 2019.
  5. ^ "New Clyde bridge planned for Glasgow". BBC. 23 February 2017. Retrieved 25 October 2018 – via bbc.com.
  6. ^ McKay, Gabriel (7 July 2024). "What new Govan-Partick bridge will bring to Glasgow and when it will be open". The Herald. Retrieved 21 September 2024.
  7. ^ "Final design for Govan-Partick bridge across the Clyde unveiled". BBC News. 7 February 2020. Retrieved 20 November 2021.
  8. ^ "Formal opening date of the Govan - Partick Bridge". Glasgow City Council. Retrieved 15 August 2024.
  9. ^ Museum cafe window view of works area at the mouth of the River Kelvin.
  10. ^ Admin, Jeremy (13 October 2023). "GLASGOW Bridge Barge Forced To Berth At Greenock". Inverclyde Now. Retrieved 14 October 2023.
  11. ^ "New bridge connecting Govan-Partick sails into Glasgow". BBC News. 14 October 2023. Retrieved 14 October 2023.
  12. ^ Burrows, Jeremy (14 October 2023). "Govan-Partick Bridge Span Arrives In Glasgow". reGlasgow. Retrieved 15 October 2023.
  13. ^ "Main span of the Govan". Glasgow City Council. 14 October 2023. Retrieved 23 October 2023.

55°51′52″N 4°18′30″W / 55.8644°N 4.3084°W / 55.8644; -4.3084

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