Govan Partick Bridge, Glasgow

The Govan–Partick Bridge officially opened on Friday, September 6th, 2024. This £29.5 million Glasgow City Region City Deal project connects Water Row in Govan with Pointhouse Quay in Partick by means of an impressive pedestrian and cycle bridge within the setting of the Riverside Museum and Tall Ship Glenlee.

The bridge span measures six metres wide and has been fabricated in two parts, the first moving span weighs an impressive 650 tonnes and is 99 metres long, and the fixed element of the structure weighs 45 tonnes and spans 15.7 metres in length.  The main span of the footbridge is connected to a pivot bolt ring on the south pier, which allows it to open and close to give access to boats and ships travelling up the Clyde.

Our scope of work for the project entailed the construction of 2 central piers within cofferdams in the river Clyde, 2 abutments, retaining walls, copes to sheet piles and hard landscaping steps. The most intricate structures were the 18m+ high piers due to their radial and conical shapes, which required bespoke steel formwork moulds. The build required Murform to work closely with Farrans and the designers to ensure the rebar and sequencing took into consideration the numerous parameters such as: casting in the large bolt cluster on the south pier that allows the bridge to pivot from, room for assembling/striking formwork,  access scaffold, cranage from the barge, differential temperature of the concrete, F4/3 finishes to the concrete and bespoke rebates/angles and rescue procedures.

The project will become a prominent structure in the Glasgow area and will provide both social and economic benefits for the communities and visitors who use it.