A £5.9 million project to install a new railway bridge at Bowling is now underway, a key step in unlocking the future development of the 150-acre former Exxon site.

The bridge will create direct access to the expansive site, paving the way for industrial units, storage facilities, distribution centres, and office space.

This infrastructure project forms part of the wider Glasgow City Region City Deal, an initiative focused on improving transport links, stimulating economic growth, and encouraging sustainable development. The bridge is being delivered through a partnership between Network Rail, West Dunbartonshire Council, and Story Contracting.

Laura Craig, scheme project manager at Network Rail Scotland, commented: "This bridge will play such an important role in the wider project to bring new life to the former Exxon site. It’s taken a lot of careful planning and collaboration to get to this point, and we’re excited to see it start to take shape."

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Approximately 80,000 tonnes of earth material have already been cleared from the site in preparation for broader summer works, including the casting of the new 2,500 tonne bridge structure, which begins this month. A more intensive period of work is scheduled over the festive period, from the end of service on Wednesday, 24 December 2025 until the start of service on Thursday, 2 January 2026. This phase will involve removing part of the railway embankment, rolling the new bridge into place, and reinstating track, overhead lines, and signalling infrastructure. During this time, there will be no trains between Dalmuir and Balloch/Helensburgh Central, or between Glasgow Queen Street and Crianlarich, impacting Caledonian Sleeper services to Fort William. Network Rail and train operators are collaborating to provide rail replacement services, details of which will be shared in advance.

Once the bridge is installed, West Dunbartonshire Council will proceed with the construction of a new road. Councillor David McBride, Convener of Infrastructure, Regeneration and Economic Development at West Dunbartonshire Council, stated: "There is real, visible progress on the site at Bowling and I am delighted that our partners, including Network Rail, are pressing on with work to develop this site in a responsible and considerate way." He added that the new infrastructure would benefit many residents and visitors to West Dunbartonshire.