Govan – Partick Bridge formally opened

The Govan – Partick Bridge, which was constructed by Farrans, was formally opened on Friday 6th September by Tom Arthur, Scottish Government Minister for Employment and Investment and UK Government Minister for Scotland, Kirsty McNeil, Councillor Susan Aitken, Leader of Glasgow City Council and children from local primary schools, Notre Dame Primary and Riverside Primary.

The £29.5million Glasgow City Region City Deal project – funded by the Scottish and UK Governments – re-establishes the historic connection between Govan and Partick, with the bridge crossing between Water Row on the south side and Pointhouse Quay on the north.

The bridge will open to the public on the morning of Saturday 7 September, with celebratory community events on both banks of the Clyde – the Clydebuilt Festival will take place on the north bank on 7 and 8 September beside the Riverside Museum, with the Footbridge Festival on the south bank at Water Row, Govan Cross and Govan Road, on 7 September.

The bridge is significant economically, environmentally and socially through the link it will provide not only between communities, but also a number of visitor attractions and institutions of national economic importance.  The crossing is also a central 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 – which began in April 2022 – 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 Govan – Partick Bridge is key to and complements public and private sector investments such as the £38million UK Government Strength In Places funding to help the University of Glasgow develop the Clyde Waterfront Innovation Campus next to the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital; the Water Row (housing and commercial) development; and proposals for more than 1,000 homes at Yorkhill Quay.

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 said: “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, said: “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 Gilmorehill campus will bring.”

The Glasgow City Region City Deal will see both the Scottish and UK Governments each provide £500million of funding for infrastructure projects.