£117M Twin-Leaf Opening Road Bridge Across River Clyde Opens To Traffic

The Renfrew Bridge, the first opening road bridge across the River Clyde, was officially opened on Friday 9 May, signalling the completion of the Clyde Waterfront and Renfrew Riverside regeneration project.

The £117M development, led by Renfrewshire Council, received significant funding from both the Scottish and UK governments, contributing £39M each, as well as an additional £1.7M from Transport Scotland. The bridge is expected to boost local employment opportunities, with projections of up to 1,400 new jobs and increased investment along the riverside area.

Constructed by principal contractor Graham, the 184m long twin-leaf cable-stayed bridge provides two lanes for vehicles alongside pedestrian and active travel routes. Its opening mechanism allows it to lift to accommodate passing ships, enhancing river traffic access. The bridge connects Meadowside Street in Renfrew with Dock Street in Yoker, improving links between the two communities.

Each span is 92m long, making it one of the world’s largest double-leaf bobtail swing bridges. “Bobtail” means it is asymmetrical, with 65m forward spans and 27m back spans. The spans are gear-driven and operated by an efficient electro-hydraulic system capable of swinging each span 110° open for marine vessel passage.

Graham subcontracted the delivery of the bridge’s superstructure to Hollandia Iemants JV, which employed Hardesty and Hanover (H&H) with Roughan & O’Donovan to execute the design. Graham constructed the substructure of the bridge, employing Ramboll for the design, while Amey was subcontracted by Ramboll for the highway design.

Work started on site in May 2022, searching for unexploded ordnance before commencing with piling. The twin leaf sections were shipped in from the Netherlands last April and May.

Last year, NCE spoke to several people involved in the project about the design challenges, including H&H bridge practice lead Jim Phillips who claimed it is “the most complex structure that [he has] worked on” in his four-decades-plus career.

The Renfrew Bridge in open position

As part of the wider project, new connecting roads and cycling and walking paths have been established, supported by £2M from Transport Scotland. These include an extension of Argyll Avenue linking Inchinnan Road to Meadowside Street and a new direct route connecting Renfrew to Yoker Railway Station for the first time.

The improved transport links also enhance access to the Advanced Manufacturing Innovation District Scotland (AMIDS), located adjacent to Glasgow Airport. This district, overseen by Renfrewshire Council in partnership with the Scottish Government and Scottish Enterprise, is being developed as a hub for manufacture innovation and research.

The bridge and associated infrastructure form part of the wider Glasgow City Region City Deal, a £1.13bn partnership between eight local authorities aimed at fostering sustainable economic growth across the region.

Construction of the bridge generated more than 950 jobs during the build phase and supported numerous local subcontractors and suppliers.

The completion of the Renfrew Bridge marks a significant step in improving regional connectivity, supporting economic development, and enhancing community links along the River Clyde.

Graham project director Jim Armour said: “The official opening of Renfrew Bridge represents the culmination of years of innovative engineering, collaborative working and community engagement. This transformational piece of infrastructure will revitalise an area that has endured industrial decline over many years.

“The twin leaf cable-stayed swing design presented unique engineering challenges, which our team overcame through innovation and value engineering. By reconfiguring the deck section and optimising the stay-cable configuration, we’ve delivered a more efficient structure with a 35% carbon reduction. We’re immensely proud to have constructed a landmark transport link that celebrates the shipbuilding heritage of the Clyde.”

Renfrewshire Council leader Iain Nicolson said: “I’m delighted to see the opening of the new Renfrew Bridge as we successfully complete this transformational project which will enhance the local economy, attract new investment and developments to the riverside, and create thousands of new job opportunities for local people.

“It is another example of the Council’s ability to deliver nationally significant infrastructure projects and the benefits will be felt immediately by road users, local residents and businesses, as well as the long-term economic boost to Renfrewshire and the Glasgow City Region.”

Scottish minister for employment and investment Tom Arthur said: “Renfrew Bridge’s opening is a historic moment, and it will be a welcome addition to the Clyde, creating opportunities for communities and businesses on both sides of the river and supporting 1,400 new jobs.

“This delivers our Programme for Government commitment to invest £1.9bn in Growth Deals, benefiting people across Scotland. Other measures include delivering 100,000 additional GP appointments by March 2026 and a ‘best in the UK’ cost-of-living guarantee, including the permanent abolition of peak rail fares.”

UK Government parliamentary under-secretary of state for Scotland Kirsty McNeill said: “Completion of Clyde Waterfront and Renfrew Riverside project, which has been supported with £39M from the UK Government, is great news for communities who can now enjoy a new bridge over the River Clyde to Yoker, a regenerated riverside and additional roads, cycling and walking routes.

“These enhancements are expected to attract further private sector investment and create more than a thousand jobs on both sides of the Clyde. This is our Plan for Change in action, working with partners to deliver economic growth and a decade of national renewal.”

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