Second anniversary of the Govan-Partick Bridge marks its success
Exactly two years since opening to the public, the City Deal-funded Govan-Partick Bridge has proved hugely popular with more than 2.5 million crossings.
Since opening in September 2023, over 2.55 million people have crossed the bridge, with three-quarters of users on foot and a quarter using bikes. Cycling use also increased by 5.5% in the second year compared to the first, highlighting its growing importance as a key active travel link for cyclists.
Funded through the Glasgow City Region City Deal, with £12.685 million provided each by both the Scottish and UK Governments for the project, the bridge re-established the historic connection between Govan and Partick by linking Water Row on the south side and Pointhouse Quay beside the Riverside Museum on the north.
The bridge is one of a number of transformational City Deal investments helping to better connect communities, support active travel, and unlock regeneration.
It has proven to be important economically, environmentally and socially, providing a link not only between communities but also to nearby visitor attractions and institutes of national economic importance including the University of Glasgow and the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital.
There is significant regeneration work underway on both banks of the Clyde close to the bridge, including the transformation of part of Govan Graving Docks into new public green space; new housing at Water Row; preparatory works at Yorkhill Quay; and the University of Glasgow’s Health Innovation Hub, a cutting-edge life sciences facility in Govan.
One of the longest opening pedestrian/cycle bridges in Europe, the Bridge has a width of six metres and two spans. The moving span, which weighs 650 tonnes, is 99 metres long and uses the South Pier at Water Row as its access; and the fixed span, which weighs 45 tonnes and is 15.7 metres long.
Councillor Susan Aitken, Chair of the Glasgow City Region Cabinet and Leader of Glasgow City Council, said:
“These fantastic figures for the Govan-Partick Bridge underline how quickly it has become not only a key part of the city’s travel network, but a well-loved landmark that – as we can see from what is happening on both sides of the river – is meeting its key aims of connecting and regenerating our riverside communities while supporting the local, regional and national economy. What a success the Bridge has been.”
The Glasgow City Region City Deal is delivering a programme of transformational infrastructure projects across the city-region, supported by £500 million of funding from both the Scottish and UK Governments.