£80m deal for first opening road bridge over the Clyde
A CONSTRUCTION contract of £79.5 million has been awarded to build the first opening road bridge over the River Clyde.
Councillors from Renfrewshire Council’s finance board have agreed to award the Clyde Waterfront and Renfrew Riverside contract to civil engineering specialists Graham.
The project is jointly funded by the UK and Scottish governments through the £1.13 billion Glasgow City Region City Deal.
It will support about 700 jobs during its construction and generate hundreds of subcontract and supplier opportunities.
Renfrewshire Council leader Iain Nicolson said: “We are delighted to have approved the awarding of this contract and look forward to working with civil engineering specialists Graham and its project partners on what is a hugely significant project for Renfrewshire, the Glasgow City Region and indeed Scotland.
“We are excited by its potential in creating a vibrant attractive waterfront and connecting communities to their work, to hospitals and to education.
The twin-leaf swing bridge, which will take vehicles, cyclists and pedestrians from Renfrew to the boundary between Glasgow and
West Dunbartonshire, forms the centrepiece of the project.
Construction is scheduled to start this spring and take three years to complete.
Also included in the plan are riverside walking and cycling routes and a new road through Renfrew connecting the bridge to the Advanced Manufacturing Innovation District Scotland being developed by the council in collaboration with Scottish Government and Scottish Enterprise.
Economic estimates say the waterfront project could lead to 1,400 permanent posts and 950 temporary construction roles from the resultant £230m in private sector investment expected to be attracted.
Transport Secretary Michael Matheson said: “Across Scotland we have so far committed more than £1.9bn over the next 10 to 20 years to City Region and Growth Deals and additional investments.
Iain Stewart, UK Government Minister for Scotland, said: “This ambitious project will support jobs and bolster the Clyde area as a great place to live, work and do business.”