Northern Ireland construction firm GRAHAM has successfully delivered one of the UK's most ambitious infrastructure projects to date with the official opening of Renfrew Bridge across the River Clyde.

Acting as principal contractor for Renfrewshire Council, GRAHAM has played a central role of this £117 million engineering feat, which forms the centrepiece of the wider £1.13 billion Glasgow City Region City Deal.

Renfrew Bridge is the UK's first twin-leaf, cable-stayed swing bridge and now provides a vital connection between Renfrew, Clydebank and Yoker. Spanning an impressive 184 metres across the River Clyde, the innovative bridge accommodates two lanes of traffic via a 7.3-metre-wide road, with a shared cycleway. The shared cycleway is extended either side of the bridge to ensure good access for all.

-- Advertisement --

Jim Armour, GRAHAM's Project Director, said: "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 a landmark transport link that celebrates the shipbuilding heritage of the Clyde."

Fabricated in Holland and Belgium, the bridge sections were transported by barge over a seven-day period and installed over the bridge pivot piers during a precision 48-hour operation for each section.

Additional works included a layby berthing facility for ships at Rothesay Dock, a plant and control room on the southside of the river, and mechanical and electrical installations to enable the operation of the moving bridge. The extension of the existing Argyll Avenue to connect Meadowside Street with Inchinnan Road in Renfrew will significantly reduce traffic congestion in Renfrew town centre.

The landmark infrastructure project was officially inaugurated on Thursday, May 8, by Scottish Government Minister for Employment and Investment Tom Arthur MSP and UK Government Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Scotland Kirsty McNeill MP, as well as partners, stakeholders and the local community, to formally open the bridge.