CGI impression of the road bridge to be built over the River Clyde, Scotland. Credit: Graham.

UK-based construction company Graham has secured a contract to build the first opening road bridge over the River Clyde and create new connections into Scotland’s manufacturing innovation district.

The £79.5m contract has been awarded by councillors on Renfrewshire Council’s Finance board.

The twin-leaf swing bridge, which will span from Renfrew to the boundary between Glasgow and West Dunbartonshire, will be used by vehicles, cyclists and pedestrians.

A road through Renfrew connecting the bridge to the Advanced Manufacturing Innovation District Scotland (AMIDS), which the council is developing in collaboration with the Scottish Government and Scottish Enterprise, will also be built.

Construction is due to start shortly and expected to take three years to complete, with the contract to be finalised this month after the procurement process is completed.

The UK and Scottish governments are jointly funding the project under the £1.13bn Glasgow City Region City Deal.

In its construction phase, the project is expected to support 700 jobs and generate hundreds of subcontract and supplier opportunities.

Renfrewshire Council leader Iain Nicolson said: “We are delighted to have approved the awarding of this contract and look forward to working with civil engineering specialist Graham and its project partners on what is a hugely significant project for Renfrewshire, the Glasgow City Region and indeed Scotland.

“We are excited by its potential for creating a vibrant, attractive waterfront and connecting communities to their work, to hospitals and education.

“In the short term, it will accelerate economic recovery from the devastating impact of the Covid-19 pandemic by creating jobs and boosting opportunities for suppliers, and in the long term, the new infrastructure will open up access to development opportunities on both sides of the Clyde and ensure the success of AMIDS, cementing Renfrewshire’s position as the home of manufacturing innovation in Scotland.”

Scotland’s Transport, Infrastructure and Connectivity cabinet secretary Michael Matheson said: “Across Scotland, we have so far committed more than £1.9bn over the next ten to 20 years to City Region and Growth Deals and additional investments.

“It’s great to see such significant progress in delivering this transformative project, which will create jobs, apprenticeships and new connections into the manufacturing innovation district. The Scottish Government is a full partner in the Glasgow City Region City Deal, contributing £500m over 20 years.

“The investment in this project through the Deal will contribute to the region’s economic recovery by creating jobs and providing the commercial infrastructure to support and attract businesses to Glasgow and the surrounding areas. It also encourages active travel by supporting walking and cycling infrastructure in the area.”