A new £59 million ‘road bridge’ will connect Scotland’s advanced manufacturing innovation district to Paisley town centre and Glasgow airport.
The infrastructure project will provide seamless road, pedestrian and cycle way connectivity to the 75,000 square metre zone in Renfrewshire – in a huge boost to the local economy.
Renfrewshire Council’s AMIDS South project has received £38.7 million from the UK Government’s Levelling Up Fund, with the council committing a further £18.8million, to create a new road bridge across Paisley Harbour, a 1.7km gateway route along the White Cart river and a network of roads, cycling and walking links from the town centre train station and bus interchange to AMIDS, Glasgow Airport and Inchinnan.
In addition, a new road from Renfrew Road to the bridge crossing will be created which will connect into the new Paisley Grammar School Community Campus, as will dedicated walking and cycling routes. A safe access route from Gallowhill using the underpass on the former railway line will be constructed using £1.5million provided by Transport Scotland.
Economic projections have estimated the project could boost the local economy by an additional £136 million in private sector investment and cut carbon emissions by 21,700 tonnes, while creating new job opportunities and helping existing and new companies to grow and expand.
Renfrewshire Council Leader Iain Nicolson said: “AMIDS is one of the most significant developments in Renfrewshire’s recent history as it will bring high-quality jobs, world-leading industry and provide a significant boost to the area’s economy so it is important that we provide the appropriate access to Scotland’s home of manufacturing innovation.
“This project will not only provide infrastructure to better connect communities to education and employment opportunities, but it will also significantly improve the offer to organisations looking to locate here with enhanced access to the airport and the fourth-busiest train station in Scotland.
“This will be another flagship project for Renfrewshire following the completion of the Clyde Waterfront and Renfrew Riverside project, which included the new Renfrew Bridge, and will be further proof of the Council’s ability to successfully deliver nationally significant infrastructure projects which bring substantial benefits now and for generations to come.”
The new infrastructure will complement the recently-constructed Renfrew Bridge which was part-funded by the UK Government and links Renfrew with Clydebank, Yoker and the wider Glasgow City Region.
Local Transport Minister Simon Lightwood said: “Backed by over £38million in Government funding, this flagship project will deliver a major boost for Paisley and for Scotland as a whole.
“It’s exactly the kind of investment behind last month’s announcement of nearly £340 million from our Levelling Up Fund to communities across the UK. The new bridge will provide safer, better-connected transport links for local people, businesses and schools, while driving economic growth and creating thousands of new jobs – a key part of our Plan for Change.”
