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Busy Glasgow bridge reopens after £12.6m makeover

BBC A new bridge with a two-way road and a cycle lane is displayed with a construction lorry parked in the backBBC
The Shields Road bridge has been closed to traffic since August 2023

A busy bridge in the southside of Glasgow which has been closed for the last year has reopened after a £12.6m reconstruction project.

Shields Road had been shut to traffic since August last year while the bridge, which runs over a railway line, was replaced.

The closure of the road between St Andrews Drive and Scotland Street meant diversions for drivers, although there has been a temporary footbridge since January 2024.

The disruption had caused concerns for businesses in the area, who have welcomed the reopening of the road.

The work, funded by Network Rail and Glasgow City Council, has led to the lifting of a weight restriction which has been in place on the bridge for 25 years.

A new deck and side walls have been installed, and overhead line equipment for the railway has been fitted underneath the bridge.

It will have wider footpaths, higher kerbs and a dedicated two-way cycle lane.

Network Rail work taking place on the bridgeNetwork Rail
The road was closed to traffic for a year while the bridge was replaced

Teresa Bell's fish shop, The Fish People, is a short walk from the bridge.

She was worried when she heard about the closure because most of her customers come from the city's southside.

''We are so lucky we have loyal customers because they used a map for how to get around the motorway to us and it has seemed to work a treat," she said.

Teresa said she was glad that the bridge had been fixed.

''It's been an eyesore for so many years. It had all these barriers up - they were here when we came," she said.

"It's going to be a nice new bridge and it will be much better for everyone."

Staff at the Fish People chip shop
Most of The Fish People's customers come from the southside

Dan Cook had just launched a new taxi service called Myle Cars when the road closed.

"It didn’t just cut off a route - it severed a vital connection for many in Glasgow," he said.

He said this equally affected the drivers and customers, leading to significant detours, longer waits and journey times, and using more fuel.

"With the bridge back in action, our job just got a whole lot easier," he said.

"We’re anticipating shorter wait times, more efficient routes and, of course, much happier drivers."