Overwater ground investigations will gather geotechnical and environmental information needed to develop the designs for both the ‘Clyde Waterfront and Renfrew Riverside’ and ‘Glasgow Airport Investment Area’ projects.
These will see a new opening bridge across the Clyde linking communities north and south of the river, construction of the Renfrew North Development Road, a new bridge across the White Cart, the realignment of Abbotsinch Road, and the creation of new cycle routes.
Following on from the initial public consultation events in May 2016, further public engagement events held in December continued to demonstrate overwhelming support for the projects, with early indications that approximately 80 per cent of responses were positive.
Renfrewshire Council‘s Procurement Subcommittee gave the go-ahead for a contract with Causeway Geotech Limited today (Monday 9 January). The ground investigations work will begin in the next few weeks and be completed before the end of March.
Renfrewshire Council Leader Mark Macmillan, the Glasgow City Region Cabinet Lead for Enterprise, said: “Our public engagement events in May and December showed local people are incredibly enthusiastic about these projects and eager to see them take shape.
“Hundreds of visitors came along to the events in Renfrew, Paisley, Clydebank and Yoker to speak to the project teams and the feedback from the public was overwhelmingly positive.”
He continued: “These new bridges, improved roads and new cycle routes will benefit people in every community within Renfrewshire and across our wider city region.
“By improving connections between communities and places of business these projects will provide local people with better access to jobs, education opportunities and health care, entertainment and leisure facilities, as well as giving companies better access to their customers and workforce.
“The start of on-site work is a key milestone in any infrastructure project and the award of this contract is a significant moment in the delivery of these ambitious developments.”
The contract for site investigations was awarded following a competitive tender process, which saw Causeway Geotech Limited submit the most economically advantageous bid. The cost for the works is £623,755.
The £90.7 million ‘Clyde Waterfront and Renfrew Riverside’ initiative and the £39.1 million ‘Glasgow Airport Investment Area’ venture are two of three major City Deal infrastructure projects to secure Renfrewshire’s long-term economic future.
Along with the £144 million Airport Access Project – providing the long sought-after direct rail link between Glasgow Airport, Paisley and Glasgow City Centre – they will attract inward investment, create jobs and cement the region’s place as the economic powerhouse of Scotland.
All three projects were approved by Renfrewshire Council in November with City Deal funding green-lit by the Glasgow City Region Cabinet last month.