PLANS have been submitted for a bridge between Govan and Partick as work to improve links between the University of Glasgow and the proposed crossing gets started.

Glasgow City Council has now applied for planning permission and marine licences for the bridge, which would span from Water Row to Pointhouse Quay.

And work is under way on the Active Travel North project, improving pedestrian and cycle links between the university campus and the riverside.

New segregated cycle routes will be created along Bunhouse Road, Old Dumbarton Road, Benalder Street and Ferry Road.

READ MORE: New plan to join Partick and Govan

Both schemes are being funded with money from the City Deal, an over £1bn investment in the Glasgow City Region by both the UK and Scottish Governments.

A Govan Partick strategic development framework was adopted by the council this year.

It states: “By 2030, Govan-Partick will be recognised as an urban district of well-connected but distinct neighbourhoods, providing a very high quality of life, creating a context for nationally significant economic development and a narrowing of social inequalities.

“The area will be recognised as a leading Innovation District, where technical excellence contributes to inclusive growth and the building of a liveable place.”

Applications for the new, cable stayed swing bridge were submitted last week.

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A council spokesman said: “Once complete, the bridge will form part of a high-quality active travel route between communities, academic institutions, business and visitor attractions banks of the river.”

An early focus of the Innovation District will be the Clyde Waterfront Innovation Campus – a “centre of excellence for industry and research” to be developed on vacant land at Linthouse Road.

The University of Glasgow secured £38m of UK Government funding for a ‘Living Lab’, specialising in precision medicine, which will be the first building on the campus.

With a 115m long deck and a rotating centre span of 68m, it would be “one of the longest opening footbridges in Europe”.

The deck would be supported by a 28.5m high tower, designed to “evoke historical references such as the cranes of the Govan Shipyard”.

Glasgow Times:

The council hopes to award a contract for the work in summer 2021, allowing construction to start later next year. It would then be open to the public from early 2023.

The Active Travel North project, which is due to be complete in April next year, aims to improve cycle infrastructure and pedestrian links between the University of Glasgow campus and the proposed bridge.

It will also include improvements to the public realm to “enhance feelings of safety” and encourage the route to be used more.

The council spokesman said: “The current conditions do not encourage sustainable travel and results in potential for conflict between those on foot and those on bikes.”

Street furniture and public art will be installed at key junctions and lighting along the route will be replaced.