THE emerging concept design for the pedestrian bridge that will connect Govan and Partick in Glasgow has been unveiled.
Ground investigation works at the site are now complete, and the final design will be developed over the next six months with a planning application likely to be submitted in summer 2019.
The appointment of the contractor to build the bridge is expected in spring 2020, and construction work is due to take place between summer 2020 and summer 2021.
The bridge will span from Water Row in Govan on the south bank, which is subject to a separate £57million regeneration plan, to an extended quay wall on the north bank of the river adjacent to the Riverside Museum, a crossing of approximately 110 metres.
It will have a 63-metre opening main span to accommodate the navigation of larger vessels such as the Waverley, making it one of the largest opening footbridges in Europe.
The length of the opening span, and a requirement to open in periods of high wind, means that the technical challenge at the Govan to Partick crossing is significant. Following consideration of a number of structural options a cable-stayed swing bridge was identified as the most elegant solution that was capable of meeting the technical requirements while enhancing local landmarks and maximising views of and from the bridge deck.
The V-shaped pylon design complements the architecture of Zaha Hadid’s Riverside Museum. A forward inclination of the pylon takes inspiration from the historic riverside cranes which once lined the quayside.
The bridge will connect with a new footbridge across the River Kelvin which will be provided by Glasgow Harbour Limited as a condition of their proposed mixed-use development. This will provide a new route to Partick Interchange, the fifth-busiest transport hub in Scotland. The bridge will also link to an improved walking/cycling route up Ferry Road/Bunhouse Road towards Partick Cross and Glasgow University Campus
The footbridge -– funded by the Glasgow City Region City Deal — is one of a range of interventions that Glasgow City Council is delivering in order to build on the economic assets that exist in the area.
It will from part of a new active travel route from Glasgow University Campus on the north bank to Queen Elizabeth University Hospital on the south. The bridge is already acting as a catalyst for development with the University of Glasgow exploring the creation of a new Waterfront Innovation Campus on vacant and derelict land to the north of the new hospital.
The bridge will also help establish a cross-river Cultural Quarter linking key assets such as the Riverside Museum and Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum on the north bank to Govan Old Parish Church and Fairfield Heritage Centre on the south bank.
Video of the concept design
