Thousands attend festival celebrating new bridge

Thousands of people celebrated the opening of the Govan-Partick Bridge on Saturday (Sept 7) with song and dance.

Sunny Govan lived up to its nickname as audiences of all ages poured into the south shore of the Clyde for the Govan Footbridge Festival.

Festivities kicked off after the new crossing opened at the stroke of 10am, with hundreds of people waiting either side to be the first to make the walk over the water.

Over the day, the streets in and around Govan were transformed into a bustling hub of music and celebration, with attendances of around 6,000 people.

Perfect

GRID partners the University of Glasgow and Glasgow City Council supported the community-driven celebration with funding, along with Govan, Elderpark, Linthouse, Trust and Wheatley Housing Associations.

The bridge opened under dry and overcast skies but the clouds cleared as the day went on to add to the carnival atmosphere.

Acts included singer Horse McDonald, the Red Hot Chilli Pipers, Celtic fusion legends Shooglenifty and Glasgow favourites Colonel Mustard and the Dijon Five who had crowds smiling and dancing in Govan Cross.

Paul MacAlindin, organiser of the Govan Footbridge Festival, said: “Govan Footbridge Festival was the perfect way to welcome this important new crossing over the River Clyde to Glasgow.

“The communities of Govan and Partick have been connected once again and it was a joy to see crowds pass back and forth to enjoy the festivities across the day.

“To have thousands of people join us for this cultural spectacle and incredibly important moment in the history of Govan was unforgettable and Glasgow truly shone.

The University of Glasgow was delighted to support the Govan Footbridge Festival and we are thrilled that so many people were able to enjoy the festivities and mark such a momentous day for the city

Uzma Khan

“I would like to thank everyone who joined us on the banks of the Clyde to celebrate, as well as all of the performers, event staff, volunteers, contractors and funders who made the Govan Footbridge Festival possible.

“We’ve seen the whole community get behind it and can’t wait to see Govan thrive with help of this new connection.”

The £29.5million crossing was paid for by Glasgow City Region City Deal, funded by the Scottish and UK Governments, and re-establishes the historic connection between Govan and Partick, with the bridge crossing between Water Row on the south side and Pointhouse Quay on the north.

The elegant new structure sits at the heart Glasgow Riverside Innovation District, and creates a direct access between north and south banks of the river, greatly improve connectivity around GRID. 

Pictured: Members of the GRID team attending the Govan Footbridge Festival

Uzma Khan, Vice Principal for Economic Development and Innovation and Deputy Chief Operating Officer at the University of Glasgow, said: "The University of Glasgow was delighted to support the Govan Footbridge Festival and we are thrilled that so many people were able to enjoy the festivities and mark such a momentous day for the city.

"We look forward to communities on both sides of the crossing benefitting from the better connections and opportunities that the new bridge will provide."

All images - Credit: Martin Shields Photography