A new 'Avenue' has been created on the street between Charing Cross and Rose Street. This includes new, high-quality, public realm; enhanced and widened pavements that free up space for pedestrians and licensed tables and chairs; new cycle paths; junction upgrades; 27 new trees; new bus shelters, cycle stands, and seating; intelligent street lighting and 'smart' surface water management infrastructure.
The project forms part of £115m Avenues programme which will transform 17 key streets and adjacent areas in Glasgow city centre. Funded by the Glasgow City Region City Deal, the programme will introduce improved environments that will rebalance traffic modes, introduce green and smart infrastructure, with its design placing people firmly at the heart of the project.
Sauchiehall Avenue was delivered as a pilot project for the full Avenues programme.
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It was designed and delivered after consultation and collaboration with local residents, businesses and organisations.
Councillor Susan Aitken, Leader of Glasgow City Council and chair of the Glasgow City Region Cabinet, said: "The completion of Sauchiehall Avenue is a milestone in the rebirth of this famous Glasgow thoroughfare and the first stage in the biggest re-imaging and re-modelling of our city centre streets since the pedestrianisation of Buchanan Street 40 years ago. We've created a physical environment which will be the catalyst for social and economic benefits, improving Sauchiehall Street's overall look and feel and helping it adapt to the changes affecting high streets everywhere. It's now a street where pedestrians, cyclists and vulnerable road users are prioritised over the car, a safer, cleaner, more vibrant space which is attractive to both visitors and investors. The wider Avenues project - the biggest such scheme in the UK - will help us to both make the most of the fantastic economic potential of so many districts in the city centre and meet the challenges facing it."
Cabinet Secretary for Transport, Infrastructure and Connectivity Michael Matheson added: "I'm delighted to see that the results of our £500 million investment into the Glasgow City Region Deal's Infrastructure Investment Fund are beginning to be seen. We are committed to developing an Active Nation, where more people have opportunities to walk and cycle than ever before. This is an example of additional investment in high quality active travel infrastructure over and above the £80 million we spend every year. The rate of cycling into Glasgow City Centre has more than doubled since 2009 and the Avenues project will build on this demand and accelerate this positive rate of change. I look forward to seeing the city continue to transform as both residents and businesses take advantage of the opportunities it will create."
(CM/JG)
