Govan-Partick bridge installed over River Clyde

Govan-Partick bridge installed over River Clyde

Two sections of a bridge over the River Clyde in Glasgow have been connected ahead of its opening later this year.

The pedestrian and cycle bridge will connect Water Row, near Govan Cross, to the Riverside Museum at Pointhouse Quay.

Glasgow City Council said the installation of the bridge span, which is fixed to the north bank of the river, is a key milestone in the project.

The bridge arrived in the city last October after being shipped from the Netherlands.

The swing section of the bridge was installed in October, and the remaining smaller fixed span on the north bank was installed this week.

Built in Belgium, the bridge span is 6m (20ft) wide and was fabricated in two parts.

The moving span, which weighs 650 tonnes (650,000kg), is 99m (324ft) long and will use the South Pier (at Water Row) as its access. The fixed span weighs 45 tonnes (45,000kg) and is 15.7m (51ft) long.

Its deck will be 8m (26ft) wide - providing enough space for pedestrians and cyclists - and will offer "step-free" access for wheelchairs and buggies.

Headroom of nearly 5m (15ft) above the high-water line will allow smaller vessels to pass under the bridge when it is closed.

The swing bridge will take a few minutes to move to the open position and will allow larger vessels, including the Waverley paddle steamer, to pass through.

The council said the bridge would be economically, environmentally and socially important as it will create a link between communities, visitor attractions and institutions of national economic importance.

It will also play a key part of the active travel route between the University of Glasgow's campus at Gilmorehill and the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital.

The £29.5m project, part of the Glasgow City Region City Deal, is funded by the Scottish and UK governments.

It is part of a wider plan to regenerate the Govan area, which included building 92 new social housing flats near the bridge on Water Row.