THE final piece of a cable bridge that will connect Renfrew with Clydebank over the River Clyde and is a key part of a £117 million project has arrived for installation.
The final section of the Renfrew Bridge, which is a significant part of the £117m Clyde Waterfront and Renfrew Riverside project, has arrived in Renfrewshire and is ready to be installed into place by engineers.
The new 184-metre cable-stayed twin-leaf bridge will connect Renfrew with Clydebank and Yoker directly for the first time.
There are plans for the project to also create additional connecting roads, including cycling and walking routes, and road links from Yoker Railway Station to Inchinnan Road in Renfrew.
Deputy First Minister and Cabinet Secretary for Economy Kate Forbes has hailed the project as a success and hopes it will drive economic growth in the area.
She said: “Through our £500 million investment in the Glasgow City Region Deal, we are unlocking economic opportunities in Renfrewshire.
“Progress continues towards the opening of the bridge, which will create walking, cycling and road connections across the River Clyde.
“We hope that this will drive growth in the local economy and support over 800 new jobs.”
The project is jointly funded by the UK and Scottish Governments through the £1.13billion Glasgow City Region City Deal.
The deal is a partnership of eight councils which are working to deliver a programme of developments to help grow a “strong, inclusive and sustainable” city region and it hopes to boost the economy as well.
Paisley Town Hall is another example of the investment scheme as Renfrewshire Council plan to modernise the building into one of Scotland’s top entertainment venues.
The completion of the bridge is projected to be ahead of schedule and will be open for people, cyclists and motorists by Autumn this year.
Renfrewshire Council Leader Iain Nicolson, has said the bridge will help bring more opportunities to the area as well as providing a vital link between the two communities.
He said: “This project further outlines this council’s ability to deliver nationally significant infrastructure projects successfully and it brings with it the potential for thousands of additional jobs, investment and developments to the riverside.
“The connectivity and opportunities it will create for businesses, workers and communities to locate here is going to bring visible economic benefits to Renfrewshire and the Glasgow City Region.
“It will be yet another boost to AMIDS, as well as Westway, Glasgow Airport and the Inchinnan Business Park, as we seek to attract world-class organisations to choose Renfrewshire as their base – and bring with them highly-skilled jobs for those who live here – and I look forward to the second section of the bridge being installed ahead of its scheduled opening later in the year.”
