Plans for £5.7m transformation of Sauchiehall Street in Glasgow delayed by several months

Work to transform one of Scotland’s busiest streets has been delayed by several months.

The £5.7m revamp of Glasgow’s Sauchiehall Street began in September last year and was supposed to be finished by this summer.

But issues with underground utilities in the city centre street mean it is now scheduled to be completed by the end of the year at the latest.

Glasgow City Council said the discovery of the issue meant some aspects of the transformation had to be redesigned.

It said design work has been completed and construction will now resume on the site, with increased activity expected over the next few weeks.

Glasgow City Council plans to add greenery to Sauchiehall Street and increase accessibility for cyclists and pedestrians. Glasgow City Council

Glasgow City Council had recently removed dozens of trees in the area, digging up a section of the street and fencing it up.

The multi-million project will connect to Rose Street and stretch to West Nile Street, with the connecting Cambridge Street Avenue stretching to Cowcaddens Road.

Officially titled the Sauchiehall Precinct & Cambridge Street Avenue project, money for the redevelopment came from the Glasgow City Region City Deal which is funded by the Scottish and UK Governments.

It is the second Avenues project on Sauchiehall Street, after the pilot scheme focused on the area between Charing Cross and Rose Street previously.

Rain gardens, 40 street trees, new kerbing and lighting and road, pavement and footway reconstruction are all expected to be included in the development, which is hoped to improve accessibility for pedestrians and cyclists.

The Glasgow street is set to get a £5.7m makeover with 40 new trees, lighting and the rebuilding of roads, and footpaths. LDRS

A spokesperson for Glasgow City Council said: “The work currently taking place at Cambridge Street and Sauchiehall Street will – when complete – significantly improve the roads, pavements and footways there, with cycle paths, new lighting and new street trees (more than were in place before) amongst the features to be introduced.

“We are very aware of the disruption this work can bring and its impact on the appearance of the area, but when all the work is complete, the environment on Cambridge Street and this part of Sauchiehall Street will be far more attractive for everyone who visits the area.

“Forthcoming projects and proposals on Sauchiehall Street and the streets close to it will help to regenerate one of our greatest and most famous thoroughfares.”