Welcome to Glasgow’s Kelvin Bridges civil engineering trail THE TRAIL This walk from Kirklee along the River Kelvin will take Start the trail on the West side of the River Kelvin at Kirklee you on a scenic journey with bridges old and new, simple Bridge (1). The path can be accessed at the Kirklee entrance and grand. You’ll learn about the engineering behind the to Glasgow Botanic Gardens. After crossing the Ha’penny bridges and see things you may never have noticed before. Bridge, continue along the Kelvin Walkway and through Kelvingrove Park. At Kelvin Way Bridge (13), cross over Firstly, a little bit of background… the road and continue on either side of the river to reach From its source on the moors of the village of Banton, the Dumbarton Road and see the final bridges on the trail. River Kelvin flows for almost 22 miles (35 km) before reaching This walk should take approximately an hour to complete the River Clyde, at Yorkhill Basin in the City of Glasgow. in one direction. Numerous bridges span the River Kelvin and their various There are various public transport options from the city styles reflect the rapid industrial and commercial centre. If using the Glasgow Underground, Hillhead development of the late 19th and early 20th centuries, Station is the closest to Glasgow Botanic Gardens and the which made Glasgow one of the most important cities trail passes Kelvinbridge Station and ends near Kelvinhall in the British Empire. Station. There are also regular buses from the city centre along Great Western Road and Dumbarton Road. In recent years, the de-industrialisation of Glasgow together INSTITUTION OF CIVIL ENGINEERS with improvements in river water quality, have made This leaflet has been produced by the Glasgow and West walking beside the River Kelvin a wonderful city experience, of Scotland Branch of the Institution of Civil Engineers. with much to observe, from the rich industrial heritage An engineer-led guided walk is available for groups to the abundant natural habitat. on request. Once more, the river is home to iconic species including otters, kingfishers and the Atlantic salmon. But why do bridges matter? Find out more: ice.org.uk/what-is-civil-engineering Glasgow’s bridges connect our city enabling us to cross the Clyde and the Kelvin rivers and railways, roads and canals. ice.org.uk/scotland As well as spanning physical obstacles to provide safe passage @ICEScotland they enable people and goods to move quickly and freely ICE Scotland and represent the concept of exchange. This interchange [email protected] of ideas and culture has made Glasgow the metropolitan city it is today. Civil engineers design, build and maintain bridges and lots more besides. Registered charity number 210252 Registered in Scotland SC038629 Kelvin Bridges Trail GLOSSARY Types of bridge design Abutment – the element that supports the end BEAM AND SLAB BALANCED CANTILEVER of a bridge Box girder – a girder that forms an enclosed square or rectangular tube rather than open sided. Originally constructed of riveted wrought iron, they can now be of rolled or welded steel, aluminium extrusions ARCH or prestressed concrete BALANCED CANTILEVER (LIKE FORTH BRIDGE) Deck – the traffic carrying surface of a bridge Facing – an outer layer covering the surface of a wall or other construction Girder – a large beam used for building bridges and buildings, usually iron, steel or sometimes concrete 3 PINNED ARCH BALANCED CANTILEVER (LIKE ERSKINE BRIDGE) Parapet – a low protective wall along the edge of a roof, bridge, or balcony. Pier – intermediate vertical support for a bridge superstructure Joints allow for movement due to thermal expansion & contraction Pile – a slender column of materials such as concrete, stone or steel which acts as a deep foundation, TIED (BOWSTRING) ARCH transferring load from a structure to more stable ground SUSPENSION below the surface. Scour – the action of removal of material from under bridge supports by fast flowing water Span – the distance between the supports for a structure Spandrel – the space between two arches or between an arch and a rectangular enclosure CABLE STAYED Viaduct – a long bridge composed of several spans TRUSS for crossing a valley Weir – a barrier or dam across a river that alters the flow of water raising the upstream water level 1. KIRKLEE BRIDGE (1901) 11. PRINCE OF WALES BRIDGE (1895) One of Glasgow’s finest bridges, Kirklee Bridge carries a road high A central feature of Kelvingrove Park, this bridge above the river and the Botanic Gardens. Formed from red sandstone provides a popular link between the university masonry arches and topped with polished pink granite ionic columns of Glasgow and the West End with the city and balustrades, Glasgow’s coat of arms decorates the spandrels. centre. It’s single elliptical red sandstone brick and blockwork arch has beautiful carved stone The bridge`s foundation stone carries an inscription featuring the Lord 6. NORTH WOODSIDE balustrades, carvings of the arms of Glasgow and Provost Samuel Chisholm, responsible for the introduction FOOTBRIDGE (1978) elegant wrought iron light fittings. of draconian restrictions to the licencing laws in Glasgow. Constructed as part of the Kelvin Walkway scheme, this simple beam 12. NEW PARK FOOTBRIDGE 2. HA’PENNY BRIDGE (KIRKLEE FOOTBRIDGE) (2002) and slab bridge has steel beams and a reinforced concrete deck, supported (1964) The first recorded bridge at this site, the Three Trees Well on stone faced abutments. Footbridge (named after a local beauty spot) collapsed in The wooden Old Park Footbridge was the 1880s. It was replaced by the Ford Road Bridge which replaced by this reinforced concrete, carried a toll of one halfpenny to deter the residents of three pinned arch, which was inspired Maryhill from using it, hence the name. This bridge was by the work of renowned Swiss civil finally swept away in 1994 and replaced by the current engineer Robert Maillart. KELVINGROVE timber truss structure which was built to maintain both the Glasgow to Milngavie PARK cycle route and the Kelvin Walkway (with no toll!). 13. KELVIN WAY BRIDGE (1914) Next to the bridge are the remains of Kirklee Station and within the Gardens As you follow the path out of Kelvingrove park, themselves are the remains of Botanic Gardens Station, both of which closed in you’ll cross over this Grade B listed structure which 1939. It was hidden under the Botanic Gardens that King George V slept in safety is a single masonry arch in red sandstone. In the when he visited the Clydesiders in 1917 in an effort to ease industrial unrest. 7. BELMONT STREET BRIDGE (1870) 1920’s four bronze sculpted groups were added to the parapets, representing Peace and War, The City of Glasgow Bank commissioned Philosophy and Inspiration, Navigation and 3. BOTANIC GARDENS FOOTBRIDGE (1908) a “handsome stone bridge” to give Shipbuilding and Commerce and Industry. access to their development in the North The difference in height of the banks on either side of the river give Cross over Kelvin Way and re-join the path on either side Woodside area and got this imposing this bridge its “humpback” profile. Formed from steel fabricated of the river, heading towards Dumbarton Road. You’ll pass sandstone masonry arch structure. girders, concrete abutments and cast iron columns, decorative cast another of several weirs on the river. iron parapets complete the structure. 8. GREAT WESTERN BRIDGE (1891) After renovation work, the bridge was repainted in what are thought 14. DUMBARTON ROAD BRIDGE (C.1800) to be it’s original colours. Also known as the Kelvin Bridge, this is the third bridge This four span masonry arch structure in cream sandstone to be built on this site which has been a crossing point of was known as the “Snow Bridge” as the central portion the Kelvin for centuries. The bridge is a cast iron and steel 4. QUEEN MARGARET DRIVE BRIDGE (1929) of it’s railings could be opened to allow carts to deposit arch with the girders fabricated by the famous Sir William snow into the Kelvin after heavy falls. The gates are still The current bridge was designed as part of a major road Arrol & Co. The western abutment is built over coal visible today. No longer suitable for vehicles it now serves improvement scheme that separated the then BBC buildings from workings, needing 7m long cast iron piles. The spandrels as a footbridge for public access to Kelvingrove the Botanic Gardens. Red Corncockle sandstone clads a reinforced depict the coats of arms of Glasgow, Lanarkshire and Hillhead. concrete frame, mimicing a solid masonry arch structure, like Museum & Art Galleries. Kirklee Bridge. Polished red Peterhead granite parapets complete 9. KELVINBRIDGE FOOTBRIDGE the illusion. 15. PARTICK BRIDGE (1878) Kelvin Bridge Station on the Glasgow Central Railway This single span cast-iron arch was built to carry a double tram was partly built over this steel plate girder bridge. 5. WALKER’S BRIDGE (1870) line over the River Kelvin. The outer girders have the Coats of The station closed in 1952 and the building was mostly Arms of Glasgow and Partick and it’s abutments and wing walls The first Queen Margaret Bridge was known locally as “Walker’s destroyed by fire in 1968. The brick wall at the north are “rock faced” with sandstone. The bridge is similar to the Bridge” after a local cab proprietor. It was partially demolished in end conceals the last vestiges of the station. The outer Eldon Street Bridge and is another excellent example 1970 but the substantial piers and abutments can still be seen just walls remain standing, as well as part of an entrance vestibule with fragments of of Victorian engineering.