THE first opening road bridge across the River Clyde has completed operational testing.

The testing was carried out by contractor GRAHAM, with commissioning work continuing ahead of the official opening later this year.

The new bridge will connect Renfrew with Clydebank and Yoker directly for the first time and is set to provide work, health, education and leisure opportunities for communities on both sides of the river.

The project will also create additional connecting active travel and road links from Yoker railway station to Renfrew town centre.

(Image: Renfrewshire Council)

Iain Nicolson, leader of the Renfrewshire Council, said: “It’s fantastic to see this project continue to progress and move through significant milestones as we continue to show that we can deliver significant infrastructure projects successfully.

“Thousands of jobs will be, and have been, created through the CWRR project, as well as the opportunity for new homes and investment on the riverside and access to health and leisure for communities on both sides of the river.

“It’s part of an ongoing programme of transformational capital investment in Renfrewshire and the Glasgow City Region which will benefit people now but also generations to come, and I’m looking forward to seeing this new transport link completed later this year.”

The bridge is set for completion in late autumn, marking a significant achievement in the collaborative effort by Renfrewshire Council, GRAHAM, and HIJV.

Jim Armour, project director at GRAHAM, said: "This is a great milestone that demonstrates all the hard work from the full team over the last two to three years has been a success.

(Image: Renfrewshire Council)

“It was great to see the bridge closing for the first time in such a smooth, controlled, and seamless operation.

“The next stage of the project is to conduct commissioning which includes reliability and operational testing, with a number of opening and closing procedures to ensure the whole structure is working safely and efficiently.”

The project is funded by the UK and Scottish Governments through the £1.13 billion Glasgow City Region City Deal.