Building and civil engineering contractor, Farrans, has this week marked one full year since the opening of three of major transport infrastructure projects.

In a rare turn of events, Glasgow's Govan to Partick Bridge, Belfast's Grand Central Station, and Lowestoft's Gull Wing, all held their grand openings within 24-hours of each other.

Govan to Partick Bridge

A Glasgow City Region City Deal project, the bridge has re-established a historic link across the Clyde, connecting Water Row on the south side with Pointhouse Quay on the north. It was jointly funded by the Scottish and UK Governments, with each providing £12.685 million.

Farrans notes that since its public opening on Saturday, 7 September 2024, the bridge has facilitated more than 820,000 pedestrian crossings and 185,000 cyclist crossings. The company highlights the project's significant long-term economic, environmental, and social benefits, creating a central active travel route between the University of Glasgow and the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital and complementing major regeneration investments in the area.

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At 6m wide, the bridge is one of the longest opening pedestrian/cycle bridges in Europe. Its moving span measures 99m long and weighs 650 tonnes, while the fixed span is 15.7m long and weighs 45 tonnes.

The project has been recognised with several awards, including the Regeneration Award at the Scottish Civil Engineering Awards and Project of the Year (£20m – £50m) at the Construction News Awards 2025. It has also been shortlisted for the Footbridge Awards 2025 and the British Construction and Infrastructure Awards.

Belfast Grand Central Station

The Translink project has become a vital hub for integrated travel, with a 96% user satisfaction rating and an almost 40% increase in Enterprise cross-border journeys since the hourly services began. The station has welcomed over 8 million people in the last year, contributing to more than 4 million additional journeys across the wider public transport network.

Gull Wing, Lowestoft

Since opening on Saturday, 7 September 2024, the bridge has significantly reduced congestion and improved connectivity in the town. It has performed more than 1,000 lifts in its first year, allowing over 350 vessels to pass underneath without causing traffic delays. The bridge, which includes the largest hydraulically driven rolling bascule bridge in the world, has won the 2025 Bridges Design and Construction Award for projects over £10 million.