Work begins on 'city centre gateway' revamp with cycle lanes and new junctions

Work to transform a “key gateway” to Glasgow city centre — with new cycle lanes, wider pavements and upgraded junctions — has begun.

The revamp of Cowcaddens Road and Dobbie’s Loan is being carried out under the Avenues Plus programme, a series of major public realm improvement schemes.

Expected to be completed in the spring of next year, the project includes a new pedestrian junction between Buchanan Bus Station and Glasgow Caledonian University, with an underpass between the two to be filled due to “personal safety” concerns.

Cllr Angus Millar, SNP, the council’s convener for climate, transport and city centre recovery, said: “This project will see significant investment in improving the look and feel of Cowcaddens Road and Dobbie’s Loan — with new greenery, improved lighting and drainage, and road resurfacing.

The Avenues Plus project at Cowcaddens Road and Dobbie’s Loan GCC

“These transformation works at a key gateway to the city centre will connect into the wider Avenues programme and make these streets more attractive for everyone, supporting our ongoing efforts to spur on the city centre’s regeneration.”

These streets are being revamped under the £21m Avenues Plus programme, which is funded by the Scottish Government through the charity Sustrans’ Places for Everyone programme.

It builds on the £115m Avenues programme, which is backed by the Glasgow City Region City Deal, a more than £1bn infrastructure investment funded by both the UK and Scottish governments.

Focusing on the 750 metres of Cowcaddens Road and 250 metres of Dobbie’s Loan, the work will see improved road and widened pavement surfaces, segregated cycle lanes, new benches and upgraded junctions and crossings on both streets.

Rain gardens and the planting of 59 new trees are planned to improve air quality, manage surface water and boost the area’s “look and feel”.

The council has said the underpass between the bus station and the university will be “infilled to address personal safety issues due to poor visibility, with a new stair to be built at the location of the infilled underpass”.

Near the end of the project, a change will be made to the layout at the Cowcaddens Road/Port Dundas junction, with the closure of the north side of the junction to through traffic — with the exception of a permitted southbound-only lane for emergency services.

Greenery and trees on the slip pathway between Dundasvale and Cowcaddens Road are being replaced with “plant species more appropriate for the area”. Work will begin there in March, with the scheme helping to make space for the cycle lane connecting to Cowcaddens Road.

Transport secretary Fiona Hyslop MSP said: “This investment will make it easier for people to walk, wheel and cycle across Townhead and the city centre — while improving the overall look and feel with new trees and making the area less susceptible to flooding.

“This work builds on the significant transformation underway right across Scotland’s largest city to help people leave their cars at home and choose healthier, greener and cheaper transport options.”

Carole Patrick, portfolio director at Sustrans, said: “With nearly half of Glasgow households not having access to a car, this phase of Avenues Plus is an important step towards giving more people fairer, more cost-effective choices for short, everyday journeys.”

She added too many Glaswegians “still simply don’t feel confident and safe enough in getting around the city under their own steam”, adding: “Delivering these new, protected routes and improvements along Cowcaddens Road and Dobbie’s Loan will give more people this reassurance and choice.”

Another Avenues Plus project at South Portland Street, close to the south bank of the Clyde, will start in mid-March and is also expected to finish in spring next year.