NI construction firm Farrans has begun the installation of the main span of the Govan to Patrick Bridge in Glasgow.

Farrans is the main contractor on the Glasgow City Region City Deal project which is funded by the Scottish and UK Governments.

The £29.5 million project will include the construction of a new pedestrian/ cycle bridge over the River Clyde between Water Row in Govan and Pointhouse Quay in Partick.

The bridge will create a link between communities, visitor attractions and institutions of national economic importance. It will also provide an active travel route between the University of Glasgow's campus at Gilmorehill and the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital. It will also complement public and private sector investments such as the £38m UK Government Strength In Places funding to help the University of Glasgow develop the Clyde Waterfront Innovation Campus, the ongoing Water Row (housing and commercial) development and proposals for more than 1,000 homes at Yorkhill Quay.

The bridge span was constructed in Belgium and left Westdorpe in the Netherlands on 7 October. It was transported along canals to Holland at which point the pylon and cabling was installed prior to sailing to the Clyde estuary and up the river. The bridge span was constructed in two parts and is six metres wide.

The moving span is one part of the bridge span which was put in place n 17 October, the other part is the fixed span which will be kept in storage until works on the North Pier and northern approach works are complete, and then installed in the summer of 2024 to complete the project.

David Buchanan, Project Manager for Farrans Construction, said: "The arrival and installation of the main span of the Govan – Partick Bridge represents a key milestone in this project and an exciting period of activity for our team. There are many factors to consider with a civil engineering operation such as this one, most of which we are able to plan, however we also have changeable elements like the weather and tides to contend with. The crane we used for the bridge is the Hebo Lift 10 which is capable of lifting 2200 tonnes. To have the bridge and crane here and ready to progress means that we are moving into the final stage of this important project. I would like to thank our client, supply chain and the local community for continuing to work closely with us to facilitate major events like this one."

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Councillor Susan Aitken, Chair of the Glasgow City Region Cabinet, said: "The arrival of the main span of the Govan-Partick Bridge is a major milestone for the project and a remarkable sight on the Clyde. When complete, the bridge will benefit those visiting, living and working in Govan and Partick, but also the entirety of the city and wider region. The creation of an active travel connection between the West End and the South Side can boost local economies and complement significant regeneration projects between the University of Glasgow and the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital and on both banks of the Clyde."

Scottish Government Wellbeing Economy Secretary Neil Gray, said: "I welcome this significant step towards reconnecting Govan and Partick. This will boost the local and wider economy and give people in Govan access to more jobs, visitor attractions and the University of Glasgow. By expanding options for active travel and bringing communities together, we are delivering a fairer, greener and growing economy."

In addition to the construction of the fabricated steel cable stayed opening swing bridge, the project will also feature:

• Demolition of a section of masonry/concrete quay wall and access stairs at Water Row, Govan;

• Construction of a sheet piled quay wall and Infilling to finished ground level to extend Pointhouse Quay to form the north bridge landing, access ramp and public realm;

• Construction of a reinforced concrete abutment/quay wall and Infilling of the disused Govan Ferry Inlet at Water Row in Govan to form the south landing;

• Construction of bridge approach ramps, retaining walls, provision of drainage and public realm at the north and south bridge landings;

• Bridge and public realm statutory and feature lighting

• Diversion of the Scottish Water Combined Sewer Outfall at Pointhouse Quay;

• Installation of timber fenders and access for a layby berth at Merklands Quay.

Through this project, 143 construction jobs will be supported and significant community benefits will be delivered including starts for 11 new employees, five new apprentices and a new graduate, school mentoring, work placement, volunteering and work experience opportunities, business mentoring opportunities, supply chain briefings and community engagement from the contractors, with both financial and non-financial support for local projects.

After the construction of the bridge it is expected that there will be 23 per cent increase in jobs that are within a 20-minute walk of Govan Cross and an 87 per cent increase in the number of jobs within a 10-minute cycle of Govan Cross.

UK Government Minister for Scotland, Malcolm Offord, said: "The opening of the Govan-Partick bridge will be an exciting moment for the community. This bridge will create a brand-new pedestrian friendly connection to bring the communities together and support redevelopment and business growth. The UK Government is supporting the project as part of £524 million investment in the Glasgow City Region Deal."