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New crossing linking Partick and Govan to become reality as design team chosen

Communities on both sides of the river saw a new crossing as a priority for the future.

Contractors have been appointed to design a new bridge between Partick and Govan.

The pedestrian and cycle bridge will be funded through the £1.13billion Glasgow Region City Deal.

CH2M Hill - formerly Halcrow - has designed a number of bridges across the River Clyde, including the Clyde Arc, the Dalmarnock Smart Bridge and the Tradeston Bridge.

The consultancy’s Glasgow office will develop the design of the bridge, with construction work expected to begin in 2019.

 Link: Contractors CH2M Hill have designed several bridges on the Clyde including the Dalmarnock Smart Bridge.
Link: Contractors CH2M Hill have designed several bridges on the Clyde including the Dalmarnock Smart Bridge.

The bridge will once again connect two historic areas of the city divided by the Clyde.

But the crossing will be able to open to ensure that vessels such as the steamboat Waverley can still berth up-stream.

Support for a bridge between Govan and Partick was requested by the two communities.

A workshop event involving local people scored a bridge highly in the vision for the future shared by both areas.

Most of those taking part felt that the bridge should cross from Water Row in Govan to either the Glasgow Harbour East site or a location beside the Riverside Museum.

A feasibility study will now examine the most appropriate site.

Councillor Frank McAveety, Leader of Glasgow City Council, said: “Govan and Partick shared a connection for centuries, and with so much regeneration happening in both communities, the time has come for this bridge to further and strengthen their development.

"I am delighted to see the beginning of work on this, the next phase of the regeneration of the Clyde.”

This new connection across the Clyde will stimulate economic growth and improve links between the University of Glasgow Campus and the hub of high-tech research facilities located at the new Queen Elizabeth University Hospital (QEUH).

It is hoped that the bridge will have a significant positive impact on the regeneration of Govan by re-positioning it at the heart of a triangle of economic opportunity created by the University to the North, the QEUH campus to the west and Pacific Quay to the east.

The new bridge will also strengthen the existing circuit of visitor attractions on either bank of the river.

This could generate linked trips and encourage people to spend more time and money in the area.

Historically Govan and Partick were closely linked. For at least 2,000 years, the area had huge importance as a location where it was possible to ford the Clyde.

As the river developed its role as a centre of industry, a port and an international seaway, it was deepened; but the vital social and economic connection was maintained through the provision of a network of cross-river ferries.

In the late 20th century the river lost its role as a seaway, a port and a centre of industry.

The historic Govan ferry was closed to passengers in the mid-1960s.

Both the UK and Scottish Governments will give the Glasgow and the seven neighbouring local authorities in the Clyde Valley £500million in grant funding for the City Deal, and the local authorities will borrow a further £130million to use for capital investment.

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