Bridge ceremony marks countdown to public opening
The completion of the new Govan-Partick Bridge has been formally marked ahead of its public opening on Saturday.
Tom Arthur, Scottish Government Minister for Employment and Investment and UK Government Minister for Scotland, Kirsty McNeil, Councillor Susan Aitken, and Leader of Glasgow City Council were joined by pupils from local primary schools, Notre Dame Primary and Riverside Primary, to mark the formal opening of the bridge.
The elegant structure which sits at the heart of Glasgow Riverside Innovation District, will open to the public for the first time on Saturday morning.
The opening is timed for the start of a weekend of festivities on both banks of the river – the Govan Footbridge Festival on the south side, and the Clydebuilt Festival by the Riverside Museum on the north side.
Scottish Government Minister for Investment Tom Arthur said: “The opening of this bridge is welcome news, improving pedestrian and cycling access to education centres, job opportunities and visitor attractions while allowing people to save cash on travel costs and reduce emissions.
“We are funding the Glasgow City Region Deal to improve transport infrastructure, create thousands of jobs and unlock billions of pounds of private sector funding for Greater Glasgow.”
UK Government Minister for Scotland Kirsty McNeill said: "The opening of this magnificent bridge across Glasgow's beloved Clyde - and joyful celebrations to follow over the weekend north and south of the water - is a powerful reminder of how vital it is to bring people and places together.
“It was a privilege to attend the opening of this UK and Scottish Government funded bridge.
“Re-establishing this historic connection between Govan and Partick will boost the economy, bond communities and support redevelopment."
Councillor Susan Aitken, Leader of Glasgow City Council and Chair of the Glasgow City Region Cabinet, said: “The completion of the Govan-Partick Bridge is a significant moment for these historic communities, Glasgow and the wider city-region.
“The re-connection of Govan and Partick through this landmark bridge will bring local and regional economic, environmental and social benefits and help maximise the boost that the major projects being delivered between the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital and the University of Glasgow's Gilmorehill campus will bring.”
The bridge will greatly improve connectivity around GRID, particularly as assets such at the Health Innovation Hub in Govan begin to take shape and activity increases. The bridge enhances the options for people working in GRID to actively travel and commute between locations.
Innovation thrives on interaction and the Govan-Patrick bridge represents a physical and symbolic connection that will bring together the diverse communities within GRID to live, work, innovate and invest.