Bridge Over The River Why?

A bridge project that will see two Glasgow communities re-united after more than half a century apart, has been made possible thanks to key temporary and permanent engineering works designed by HBPW.
 
The fabricated steel cable stayed opening swing bridge across the River Clyde began in January 2022 and, when open later this year, will link Water Row in Govan with Pointhouse Quay in Partick, re-establishing a crossing that ended in the 1960’s with the termination of ferry services.

HBPW has been playing its part in the project, part of the City Council’s wider £114m City Deal scheme which will see the development of an Innovation Quarter in the area along with other urban regeneration initiatives.
 
Partner, Paul Monaghan, said: “This is a major project being spearheaded by our client Farrans and involving a range of specialists including ourselves as the lead temporary works designers.”
 
“Initially we were asked to carry out structural assessments of the existing quay walls to ascertain loading capacities for large plant and machinery and, as part of the work we also produced designs for the working platforms for the large capacity cranes and lifting equipment.”

Construction of the bridge piers also represented a considerable challenge as Paul explains.
 
“We had to design large propped cofferdams so that excavations for the piers could take place to a depth of up to 10m below the river level. This is an incredibly precise piece of engineering considering that such retaining structures are required to resist incredible tidal water and earth pressures.”
 
HBPW designed all of the temporary works to install the new quay permanent works sheet and combi wall piles while, in addition, carrying out  permanent works Category III checks of the new bridge structure ahead of transportation from Europe where it is being fabricated.
 
“It is just over a year since work started and everyone has pulled together brilliantly. We are so proud to have been part of what will probably be one of Glasgow’s largest civil engineering projects this century,” he added.

The proposed bridge is already acting as a catalyst for development, with the University of Glasgow exploring the creation of a new Waterfront Innovation Campus on vacant and derelict land to the north of Queen Elizabeth University Hospital (QEUH).

The bridge will also help establish a cross-river Cultural Quarter linking key assets such as the Riverside Museum and Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum.

Project Client:              Glasgow City Region (City Deal project)
Contractor:                  Farrans (Construction) Limited