River Clyde's first opening swing bridge arrives by boat

The first opening road bridge across the River Clyde is a step closer to completion as the first section was delivered by boat on Wednesday.

The multi-million pound twin-leaf swing bridge, which has been in construction for three years, will connect Renfrew and Yoker and Clydebank and open up work, health, education and leisure opportunities on both sides of the Clyde – with the potential for thousands of additional jobs, investment and developments brought to the riverside.

The 600-foot swing bridge will open for passing ships and will form a new route across the river for vehicles, cyclists and pedestrians.

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River Clyde’s first opening swing bridge arrives by boat

Footage captured by: Drone Scotland.

The bridge is part of the £117m Clyde Waterfront and Renfrew Riverside project designed to open up opportunities for communities and businesses on either side of the river.

The south section of the 184-metre cable-stayed twin-leaf bridge arrived on the River Clyde after travelling for seven days on a barge across the English Channel and Irish Sea having been fabricated in the Netherlands.

It will now be installed on the Renfrew side of the river at Meadowside Street by civil engineers Graham ahead of the north section of the bridge arriving next month, where it will be fixed into place at Dock Street in Yoker.

The second section is due to arrive in late-May and the bridge will open to cars, bikes and the public later in the year.

Renfrewshire council leader Iain Nicolson said the development was going to be “transformational” for the local area and wider Renfrewshire.

He said: “The opportunities that the new bridge, and its new connecting roads and active travel routes, will offer communities and businesses are exponential and the project as a whole will provide a substantial boost to the economy and attract more jobs to the area – in addition to more than 950 already created during the construction phase.

“With this project linking into the Advanced Manufacturing Innovation District Scotland (AMIDS) at Netherton next to Glasgow Airport, it is an exciting time for Renfrewshire and outlines the council’s continued ability to deliver nationally significant infrastructure projects successfully.”

Wellbeing economy secretary Mairi McAllan said: “I’m delighted that we are providing almost £39m towards the new Renfrew Bridge through the Glasgow City Region City Deal. The arrival of the first section of the bridge is a significant milestone and will bring opportunities for local communities as well as people and businesses across the wider city region.

“The improved access to the Advanced Manufacturing Innovation District Scotland, which hosts the National Manufacturing Institute Scotland and the Medicines Manufacturing Innovation Centre, will also support our broader ambitions for a thriving, innovative manufacturing sector.”

The project is jointly funded by the UK and Scottish Governments through the £1.13bn Glasgow City Region City, a partnership of eight councils working to deliver a programme of work to grow a strong, inclusive and sustainable City Region and an economy which delivers for all people and businesses.

UK Government minister for Scotland John Lamont said: “The arrival of the first bridge section is a great moment for this flagship infrastructure project to regenerate the Clyde, improve connectivity and boost the economy.

“The UK Government is proud to be investing £39m in the Clyde Waterfront and Renfrew Riverside scheme, part of our £523m investment into the Glasgow City Region Deal, and more than £3 billion for levelling up across Scotland.”