Work on a City Network of active travel routes is currently underway with several phases of construction now complete as the city aims to add 270km of safe, segregated cycle ways to existing routes.

The final phase of the South City Way which links Queens Park with the city centre, was completed last year, whilst the first leg of Connecting Battlefield which will connect with the South City Way and the New Victoria Hospital is also now complete, having introduced fully segregated cycle lanes as well as widened footways and improved street lighting.

The City Deal-backed infrastructure programme for Byres Road, which runs between Partick Cross and University Avenue, has in its first phase of work delivered upgraded and more accessible footways as well as protected cycling infrastructure, with remaining works due for completion this Spring.

The latest phase of Connecting Woodside to improve active travel provision at Charing Cross is now complete, while work to construct the remainder of the St George’s Road active travel corridor is due t start soon.

The North-East Active Travel Route, which incorporates cycleways, bus infrastructure upgrades and improvements to footways in Barmulloch and Balornock, is now substantially finished, with remaining first phase work to be completed later this year. Meantime, work to create new infrastructure in the Blackhill and Provanhill areas of the city as part of the Flourishing Molendinar project is due to break ground later this year.

In the city centre, the City Deal funded Holland Street Avenue is nearing completion - with work to upgrade traffic signal equipment expected to be completed early this year. The Cambridge Street Avenue is now substantially complete, with segregated cycling infrastructure now in place and final works to be finished in the Spring. Construction of the Argyle Street West Avenue between the Kingston Bridge and Union Street which will deliver segregated cycling infrastructure, upgraded footways and raingardens, is also well underway and is expected to be completed by the end of the year.

Work is also anticipated to start next month to deliver the redesigned George V Bridge and its north and south junctions. This key redevelopment will see new pedestrian crossings and segregated cycle facilities, with the Broomielaw junction upgraded to a full cycle-friendly junction with separate timing for cycle uses.

This year will also see construction starting on the first phase of Connecting Yorkhill and Kelvingrove, as well as the second stage of Byres Road redevelopment. Additionally, several Avenues and Avenues Plus schemes have either begun construction this year or are due to start soon.

Councillor Angus Millar, city convener for transport, said: “Our goal is to establish a network that connects every area of Glasgow, and as this report shows we’re beginning to see projects come together to build a fairer and more sustainable transport system that covers the entire city.

“Last year was significant for Glasgow with many infrastructure projects completed, offering a variety of benefits that will encourage more people to walk, wheel and cycle, or travel more sustainably, especially for those everyday journeys.

“2024 saw the City Deal backed Govan-Partick Bridge installed, completion of the final section of South City Way, delivery of the first leg of Connecting Battlefield, construction of infrastructure that prioritises active and sustainable travel in the north-east of the city, and the creation of a people-friendly junction at Charing Cross through Connecting Woodside.

“And this year will see further progress towards Glasgow’s sustainable travel goals with construction either imminent or underway on projects including the first phase of Connecting Yorkhill and Kelvingrove, the second leg of Byres Road redevelopment, North Hanover and Kyle Street Avenues and several Sustrans-backed Avenues Plus schemes which will deliver high-quality walking and cycling links on the fringes of the city centre.

“All of these projects, which will either start or be completed this year, will help to ensure that more and more places in our city are accessible by safer, segregated infrastructure, supporting our aim that active and sustainable travel options are an attractive, viable choice for everyday journeys. A huge amount of design work will also be progressed this year, and it is hoped that many of these pipeline projects can move to the construction phase in the near future.

“In addition to our work to develop citywide Liveable Neighbourhoods it’s vitally important that everyone has easy access to safer routes for active travel. Redistributing space on our roads so people feel more comfortable walking, wheeling and cycling will also make the network more equitable and effective for all.”

Looking ahead - several key elements of the City Network Delivery Plan are undergoing work in the design phase. This includes future phases of Connecting Battlefield, the East City Way, and Connecting Yorkhill and Kelvingrove.  Route designs are also in development for Connecting Greater Govan, Inner North and South, West Nile Street Active Travel Route and the NCN7 cycle network linking Smith Street in Whiteinch with the Riverside Museum.

Development of our Liveable Neighbourhoods programme, which will help make local communities more accessible for active travel and will link with the City Network, is also moving forward.

The report presented to councillors also highlighted the variety of complementary measures in place that encourage travelling sustainably, including the significant expansion of Glasgow’s on-street cycle storage scheme, more people-friendly crossings and junctions, and the addition of specialised vehicles to our fleet for more effective, year-round maintenance of active travel routes.