Govan–Partick Bridge
| 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: | 377 feet Main span: 325 feet |
| Type: | Swing bridge |
| History | |
| Built 2022 – 2024 | |
| Information | |
The Govan–Partick Bridge is a pedestrian and cycling bridge crossing the River Clyde in Lanarkshire between Govan on the south bank and Partick on the north, downstream of Glasgow city centre, and 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 was completed in 2024, opening on 6 September of that year.[3]
The bridge replaces the ;longstanding Govan Ferry which crossed at this point.
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.[4] 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
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Funded through City Deal, the Glasgow City Council led project was expected to start in 2020, with the bridge to open in summer 2021.[4] In February 2020, the final plans for the bridge were revealed with an updated opening year of 2022.[5] After further delays, construction finally began in January 2022, and was finally completed in September 2024.
,_Greenock_Ocean_Terminal.jpg)
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.[6]
On 14 October the tugs towed the crane on its pontoon up the River Clyde into Glasgow,[7] 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.[8] 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.[9]
See also
- Renfrew Bridge, another new bridge downriver
Outside links
 |
("Wikimedia Commons" has material about Govan–Partick Bridge) |
- "Council awards design contract for Govan-Partick bridge". 1619. 23 February 2017. https://www.glasgow.gov.uk/index.aspx?articleid=20742.
References
- ↑ "Govan Partick Charrette". http://www.govanpartick.com/. Retrieved 25 October 2018.
- ↑ "New Clyde bridge planned for Glasgow". 23 February 2017. https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-scotland-glasgow-west-39065796. Retrieved 25 October 2018.
- ↑ 'New £29.5m bridge opens across the River Clyde': Andrea Racekova on BBC News 6 September 2024
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 Dalziel, Magdalene (30 January 2019). "Plans revealed for new Govan-Partick bridge after council gives green light". glasgowlive. https://www.glasgowlive.co.uk/news/glasgow-news/plans-revealed-new-govan-partick-15754282. Retrieved 29 April 2019.
- ↑ "Final design for Govan-Partick bridge across the Clyde unveiled" (in en-GB). BBC News. 2020-02-07. https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-scotland-glasgow-west-51418194.
- ↑ Admin, Jeremy (13 October 2023). "GLASGOW Bridge Barge Forced To Berth At Greenock". https://www.inverclydenow.com/glasgow-bridge-barge-berths-at-greenock/.
- ↑ "New bridge connecting Govan-Partick sails into Glasgow". 14 October 2023. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-67111794.
- ↑ Burrows, Jeremy (14 October 2023). "GOVAN-Partick Bridge Span Arrives In Glasgow". https://www.reglasgow.com/govan-partick-bridge-span-arrives-in-glasgow/.
- ↑ "Main span of the Govan". 14 October 2023. https://www.glasgow.gov.uk/index.aspx?articleid=30453.
- Formal opening date of the Govan - Partick Bridge: Glasgow City Council
| Bridges and crossings on the River Clyde | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Erskine Bridge | Renfrew Ferry / Bridge | Clyde Tunnel | Govan–Partick Bridge | Millennium Bridge | Bell's Bridge | Clyde Arc |