April 25 2024

A dramatic 'twin-leaf' bridge linking Renfrew to Yoker is taking shape with the delivery of the first deck section.

The south section of the 184-metre cable-stayed Renfrew Bridge, designed by Kettle Collective, was delivered by barge from the Netherlands, sailing up the River Clyde to its final resting place.

Civil engineers Graham will now begin the process of anchoring the section into position at Dock Street, ready for the arrival of the northern section next month. The new route will improve north-south connectivity in the west of Glasgow, improving access to the Advanced Manufacturing Innovation District Scotland and airport.

Renfrewshire Council leader Iain Nicolson said: “The opportunities that the new bridge, and its new connecting roads and active travel routes, will offer communities and businesses are exponential and the project as a whole will provide a substantial boost to the economy and attract more jobs to the area."

Expected to open by the autumn the bridge will incorporate dedicated cycling and walking routes. 

13 Comments

#1 Posted by Fat Bloke on Tour on 25 Apr 2024 at 11:08 AM

Any info on who actually built the bridge and how they got the order?

Surely it could have been done more efficiently locally rather than in the high cost / high wage Netherlands?

At least it didn't come from China like the deck of the QC aka the latest Auld Reekie tourist attraction.

#2 Posted by Fat Bloke on Tour on 25 Apr 2024 at 11:13 AM

You have to laugh -- beyond irony that a bridge to our new Advanced Manufacturing district was built overseas in the high cost / high wage Netherlands.

If we can't do the basics what chance is there of developing advanced techniques -- delusions of adequacy come to mind.

Walk then run.

#3 Posted by UR on 25 Apr 2024 at 11:18 AM

Hollandia Infra, together with Iemants/Smulders, fabricated the bridge in the Netherlands after being commissioned by Graham.
https://hollandia.biz/en/projecten/clyde-crossing-swing-bridge/

#4 Posted by UR on 25 Apr 2024 at 11:24 AM

Also, the Govan/Partick bridge was built in Belgium by Victor Buyck Steel Construction.
https://www.victorbuyck.be/en/blog/govan-partick-footbridge-main-span-installed

#5 Posted by Fat Bloke on Tour on 25 Apr 2024 at 11:33 AM

OMG -- just when you think things can't get any worse ...

So no economies of scale then.
Noah's ark build economics -- by them 2 halves at a time.
I wonder how much the transport costs were?
Did we pick up any boat people on route?
Do Orcadians count?

#6 Posted by Roddy_ on 25 Apr 2024 at 12:52 PM

We simply cannot let a polymath of such standing go unnoticed.

Get this guy signed up Scot Gov before Scotland is robbed of his talents by some foreign shipbuilding,statue renovating, bridge design and procurement specialist from abroad steals him. :)

#7 Posted by Loopy Lorna on 26 Apr 2024 at 06:04 AM

I’m genuinely surprised that both individuals above haven’t been signed up to sort out the Ferry Fiasco.
Such experts as well

#8 Posted by Gandalf the Pink on 26 Apr 2024 at 07:51 AM

Having been involved in the procurement of multi-million pound industrial components/infrastructure, I can confirm that the UK industrial base is often vastly more expensive and offers embarrassingly low levels of quality compared to ordering from industry leaders abroad. I have reviewed tenders returned from 'top actors' in the UK that cannot meet the most basic requirements for quality, and are even unable to confirm a delivery date when responding. 'Yes, we can do it, but it might not work and we have no idea when you will get it'.*

Ferrys, anyone?

I know nothing of the procurement process of this bridge, however I would assume a fabricator in the Netherlands, a country with great experience in lifting bridges due to their expansive canal system, can offer levels of quality and experience and a cost base that the UK can simply not compete with.


*An open goal awaits when the bridge fails...

#9 Posted by James Hepburn on 26 Apr 2024 at 10:29 AM

It beggars belief that we have officials who see fit to award a major civil engineering project to a foreign company? It makes you wonder where their loyalties lie and what their incentive was.

#10 Posted by Showbiz Sam on 26 Apr 2024 at 10:54 AM

Number 8. - This is so true.

Here's a procurement story of part of a building in glasgow. Stone was quarried in dumfriesshire, cut then containerised and shipped over to canada where assembled into precast panels. Then the panels were shipped back over to liverpool and driven up the road to Glasgow. No UK precast contractor came anywhere near the spec or the money.

#11 Posted by Jimbob Tanktop on 26 Apr 2024 at 11:34 AM

If I were reactively opposed to everything I'd hope someone, somewhere, might suggest the problem was me.

#12 Posted by Fat Bloke on Tour on 26 Apr 2024 at 12:23 PM

Scary stuff -- was an £80mill project in 2021 now a £117mill build.

Bookies have stopped taking bets on ground conditions being involved.

Main contractor is local'ish -- NI telephone number.
Engineering / design -- Danish HQ.
Steelwork fabrication -- Dutch.
Probably working on a build to print basis.

We must provide the on-site catering.
Road sweeping using brooms.

Not a great advert for a country / society that claims to want to have a future in manufacturing.

I fear the local contractor class is heavily into rentier capitalism -- only interested when they can name their price.

Not a good look.

#13 Posted by Roddy_ on 26 Apr 2024 at 12:58 PM

Wow - his expertise now extends even to cost control. This is impressive. Someone sign this guy up. :)

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