Clyde Arc Bridge

Providing an important link to Glasgow’s Pacific Quay, the £20 million Clyde Arc Bridge over the River Clyde has played a key part in turning this run-down part of the city into a thriving centre for creative and media businesses.

As winner of a keenly contacted design and construct competition which was assessed on technical, aesthetic and value for money grounds, Halcrow’s design features a dramatic steel bowstring asymmetrical tied arch which carries a 4 lane deck including 2 public transport lanes with cycleways. This iconic structure which opened in 2006 provides the first new traffic link over the river for more than 30 years. The 140m-span structure also features pedestrian and cycle paths and has the capability to cope with the addition of a tram system in the future.

Video produced in 2006
Project director, Iain Salisbury talks about the bridge

The Clyde Arc is continuing to demonstrate its benefit to the community in both economic and social terms.  Traffic has more immediate access between the key strategic Pacific Quay development area on the south and the city centre and waterfront developments on the northern side, shortening journey distance and times and thus reducing environmental impact.  On the social side, Glasgow now has a new iconic bridge which the city has taken to its heart.  Originally unofficially dubbed “the Squinty Bridge” by the city’s inhabitants, crowds flocked to the official opening and enjoyed the dramatic sight of the now officially named “Clyde Arc” in its urban waterfront landscape with its attractive river vistas.

The Clyde Arc provides a new, striking and highly visible landmark addition to the River Clyde in central Glasgow.  By night, coloured architectural lighting is directed upwards to reflect from the downward facing diamond sections which increases the arch’s dramatic effect.

The Clyde Arc is establishing to all of its viewers the City of Glasgow’s positive and confident approach to bringing increasing benefits to the key waterfront development areas in the centre of the city for the benefit of Glasgow and for Scotland as a whole.

Benefits

• Provides vital access to Pacific Quay
• Has helped to attract more than 3,500 jobs to the area;
• Provides a catalyst for regeneration of areas of vacant land on both sides of the river
• Has helped to stimulate wider economic benefits to areas beyond Pacific Quay
• Improves both public and private transport links for the benefit of tourism and visitor attractions and
• Provides an instantly recognisable landmark for the City which regularly features as a back drop to news reports and in other features

Innovations

• Single tie arch rib straddling the bridge deck
• Diamond shaped steel box arch rib which provides an efficient design while enhancing slenderness and providing for the projection of architectural uplighting
• The use of full depth precast concrete deck slab units to simplify construction and minimise environmental impact