Civil engineering company GRAHAM has successfully achieved the first operational closing of the Renfrew Bridge, bringing its opening a step closer. 

The company says the testing of the first opening road bridge across the River Clyde marks a significant milestone on the project as GRAHAM continue commissioning works ahead of the official opening later this year. 

Jim Armour, Project Director at GRAHAM explained: “This is a great milestone that demonstrates all the hard work from the full team over the last two to three years has been a success. It was great to see the bridge closing for the first time in such a smooth, controlled, and seamless operation. 

The next stage of the project is to conduct commissioning which includes reliability and operational testing, with a number of opening and closing procedures to ensure the whole structure is working safely and efficiently. We are all looking forward to the official opening.”

The new bridge will connect Renfrew and Clydebank and Yoker directly for the first time and will open up work, health, education, and leisure opportunities, creating thousands of additional jobs, stimulating investment and development in the riverside area. 

Renfrewshire Council Leader Iain Nicolson added: “It’s fantastic to see this project continue to progress and move through significant milestones as we continue to show that we can deliver significant infrastructure projects successfully.

“Thousands of jobs will be, and have been, created through the CWRR project, as well as the opportunity for new homes and investment on the riverside and access to health and leisure for communities on both sides of the river.

“It’s part of an ongoing programme of transformational capital investment in Renfrewshire and the Glasgow City Region which will benefit people now but also generations to come, and I’m looking forward to seeing this new transport link completed later this year.”

Video courtesy of Renfrewshire Council

(Picture – Graham)