Govan–Partick Bridge

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Govan–Partick Bridge
Lanarkshire

The swing bridge main span
Location
Type: Swing bridge
Carrying: Footpath and cycle path
Crossing: River Clyde
Location
Grid reference: NS55636588
Location: 55°51’52"N, 4°18’30"W
Structure
Length: 360 feet
Main span: 325 feet
Type: Swing bridge
History
Information

The Govan-Partick Bridge is a pedestrian and cycling bridge under construction in Glasgow, crossing the River Clyde in Lanarkshire between Govan on the south bank and Partick on the north. close to the Riverside Museum.[1][2] To allow ships past, it is a swing bridge whose main span can rotate to align with the south shore.

The bridge is 20 feet wide, and crosses the river on a 325-foot main span, which swings over the river on a pivot on the South Pier. The moving span is of 650 tons. The fixed span weighs 45 tons and is 52 feet long. The whole bridge is 360 feet long.

The V-shaped pylon design is said to be inspired by the historic cranes at the riverside. It is one of the largest opening footbridges in Europe.[3] The work is intended to improve the economic conditions in Govan (which is a deprived area of the city) and is linked to the University of Glasgow and the 'West End Innovation Quarter'. The bridge will land at Water Row in Govan where a mixed use development of housing and commercial space is planned.

History

Bridge on pontoon towed off Kilcreggan

Funded through City Deal, the Glasgow City Council led project was expected to start in 2020, with the bridge to open in summer 2021.[3] In February 2020, the final plans for the bridge were revealed with an updated opening year of 2022.[4] After further delays, construction finally began in January 2022, and is currently expected to complete by autumn 2024.

At Greenock Ocean Terminal

The bridge was built in Belgium, taken by canal to Westdorpe in the Netherlands, where the pylon and cabling was installed. It was loaded onto HEBO Maritiemservice pontoon Hebo-P84, and from 7 to 13 October towed by tug Elisa to the Firth of Clyde. They were met at the Tail of the Bank by Clyde Marine Services tugs CMS Wrestler and Bruiser. Delivery was postponed due to strong gusting wind, and the vessels stayed at Greenock Ocean Terminal overnight.[5]

Bridge works area at Pointhouse Quay

On 14 October the tugs towed the crane on its pontoon up the River Clyde into Glasgow,[6] to Pointhouse Quay just upriver from the museum. They moored the pontoon just past floating sheerleg crane Hebo-Lift 10 which was already there, along with the small tug Avontuur 2. On 17 October the floating sheerleg crane lifted the moving main span of the bridge into place on its pivot in front of Water Row, Govan, leaving it aligned with the shore so that the Clyde remains open to shipping.[7] Site work continued. The connecting fixed span, still on the pontoon, was taken away for storage. It is to be installed in the summer of 2024, when the north pier and approach path works are complete.[8]

See also

Outside links

("Wikimedia Commons" has material
about Govan–Partick Bridge)

References


Bridges and crossings on the River Clyde
Erskine Bridge Renfrew Ferry / Bridge Clyde Tunnel Govan–Partick Bridge Millennium Bridge Bell's Bridge Clyde Arc