PLANS for the first multi-million pound opening road bridge across the River Clyde have reached the tendering stage, with three international teams submitting bids.

ARC, A Balfour Beatty team and Construction and civil engineering company GRAHAM are the three companies competing for the contract to connect Renfrew to Clydebank and Yoker while transforming the Clyde waterfront.

Jointly funded by the UK and Scottish Governments through the Glasgow City Region City Deal, the £90.7million Clyde Waterfront and Renfrew Riverside project includes a 184 metre-long, twin-leaf cable-stayed swing bridge accommodating vehicles, cyclists and pedestrians and opening horizontally for passing ships.

Also included in the project is more than 2km of new and improved roads and shared cycle and pedestrian routes, including connections into the Advanced Manufacturing Innovation District Scotland next to Glasgow Airport.

Councillor Susan Aitken, Leader of Glasgow City Council, said: “This project will have a major positive impact on both banks of the Clyde and, although it is a Renfrewshire led project, we’ll be working to ensure its benefits are felt in Yoker and the surrounding areas.

“This bridge, along with other City Deal projects, will help drive inclusive economic growth across the region.”

It is anticipated the successful team will be appointed in early 2020 and construction is scheduled to start later that year and be completed in 2022.

More than 470 people will be involved in the initial construction and a further 2300 jobs are expected to follow over the next decade.

Renfrewshire Council Leader Iain Nicolson said: “This project will transform the Clyde waterfront and connect communities on both sides of the river, improving access to jobs, education, hospitals and leisure pursuits.”