New £29.5m Govan-Partick bridge in Glasgow to open with weekend of festivals

The new walking and cycling bridge between Govan and Partick is to open with a weekend of festivals on both sides of the Clyde.

Following the formal opening on Friday, September 6, the bridge will open to the public on the morning of September 7 and there will be celebratory community events that weekend.

The bridge will be opened by ministers from the Scottish and UK Governments, the leader of Glasgow City Council and local school children.

The Clydebuilt Festival will take place on the north bank on September 7 and 8 beside the Riverside Museum, with the Footbridge Festival on the south bank at Water Row, Govan Cross and Govan Road, on September 7.

Both are free to attend and include numerous activities both on and off the water.

The Red Hot Chilli Pipers will perform alongside local music acts, while Scotland’s biggest rowing race ‘Castle to Crane’ will kick off, with competitors starting at Dumbarton Castle and racing to the Finnieston Crane.

It is one of the longest opening pedestrian/cycle bridges in Europe, with a width of 6m and two spans – the moving span, which weighs 650 tonnes, is 99m and the fixed span, which weighs 45 tonnes, is 15.7m long.

Councillor Susan Aitken, leader of Glasgow City Council and chair of the Glasgow City Region Cabinet, said: “September will be a milestone in the modern history of these two great communities. It will also be a milestone for Glasgow and the wider city-region.

“Reconnecting Govan and Partick can help unlock the potential along the Clyde, create more opportunities for the people who live and work there, and continue the transformation of these areas.

“Glaswegians often tell us how they would like to see the Clyde having a more prominent role in the life of the city. This new riverside landmark does just that.”

Minister for investment Tom Arthur said: “The Govan-Partick Bridge will unlock opportunities for people living on both sides of the River Clyde.

“It will link up existing walking and cycling routes in Govan and Partick and enable more businesses to trade across the river to drive growth in western Glasgow.”

UK Government minister for Scotland Kirsty McNeill said: “Kick-starting growth and delivering economic stability is at the heart of the UK Government’s priorities.

“It’s great news for Glasgow that this UK and Scottish Government funded bridge linking Govan and Partick will soon be open, boosting the economy, bringing communities together and supporting redevelopment.”

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