Cambuslang Bridge

Cambuslang Bridge
Lanarkshire
Cambuslang Bridge
Location
Type:	Steel lattice girder
Crossing:	River Clyde
Location
Grid reference:	NS64086103
Location:	55°49’24"N, 4°10’16"W
Structure
Type:	Steel lattice girder
History
	Built 1892
Architect:	Crouch and Hogg
Information

Cambuslang Bridge, which has been referred to as 'Clyde Bridge' and also as Orion Bridge, crosses the River Clyde outside Cambuslang in Lanarkshire. Once the only road bridge for miles of the river, it is now closed to traffic.

The bridge was built in 1892 by Crouch and Hogg, using a steel lattice girder structure of the type commonly used in rail bridges of the time; as can be seen downriver in the Dalmarnock Railway Bridge and upstream in the Westburn Viaduct. For 80 years the Cambuslang Bridge carried the main road north towards Tollcross in the East End of Glasgow, but weight restrictions meant it became unsuitable for such heavy use, and in 1976 a replacement was built upstream; the Clydeford Bridge. Vehicles continued to use the Cambuslang Bridge until 1986 when the Bogleshole Road Bridge was built around half a mile to the north, downstream.

An additional accompanying footbridge, the Cambuslang Footbridge, was built by the local council in 1977: here the Clyde Walkway and the National Cycle Route 75 cross from the north to the south bank of the Clyde. In 2015 a feasibility study was conducted on creating a new cycling and walking route which would run along the south (Cambuslang) river bank to Farme Cross in Rutherglen by way of the Clydebridge Steelworks site. The footbridge is just downstream of the original Cambuslang Bridge.

Although becoming overgrown and blocked off from vehicular traffic, the older structure is still in place and can be used freely by pedestrians, meaning that for several years there have been two crossings serving the same function only a few yards from one another.

References

• The Cambuslang Bridge on SABRE

Cambuslang Footbridge