River Clyde
Artist impressions of the proposed bridge over the River Clyde. Credit: courtesy of Kettle Collective/Sweco.

Renfrewshire Council has shortlisted three international engineering teams to compete for a contract to build the first opening road bridge over the River Clyde in Scotland.

The new bridge across the Clyde, which will connect Renfrew and Yoker, has been designed by engineering consultancy firm Sweco in partnership with Kettle Collective Architects.

The bidders are ARC, a joint venture of Roadbridge and American Bridge with COWI as design partner; a Balfour Beatty team comprising Cleveland Bridge, Qualter Hall and consultants Atkins; and construction and civil engineering company Graham with Hollandia and Ramboll.

Renfrewshire Council leader Iain Nicolson said: “This project will transform the Clyde waterfront and connect communities on both sides of the river, improving access to jobs, education, hospitals and leisure pursuits.

“I am very pleased to see this project progressing well and it is no surprise that it has attracted such high calibre teams bidding to secure the design and construction contract.

The project has been jointly funded by the UK and Scottish Governments through the Glasgow City Region City Deal.

It is the centrepiece of the £90.7m Clyde Waterfront and Renfrew Riverside project, which consists of a 184m-long, twin-leaf cable-stayed swing bridge to accommodate vehicles, cyclists and pedestrians. It will also open horizontally to allow ships to pass.

The project also includes more than 2km of new and improved roads, as well as shared cycle and pedestrian routes.

The winning team will be appointed early next year, with construction expected to complete in 2022.

Nicolson added: “More than 470 people will be involved in the initial construction and a further 2,300 jobs are expected to follow over the next decade through the new developments and business growth it attracts.”