CONSTRUCTION on the controversial first road bridge over the River Clyde that opens for passing ships took another step forward with the completion of an environmentally-friendly water channel.

The £79.5 million project to connect Clydebank and Yoker with Renfrewshire marked another milestone on its journey with the new open-air culvert, which replaces an old outfall moved to make way for the new bridge.

Most of the 170-metre channel is cut out of the ground and took eight months to complete, providing a more natural watercourse to flow from the Kilpatrick Hills into the Clyde.

Glasgow Times: Artist impression of the road bridge being delivered through the Clyde Waterfront and Renfrew RiversideArtist impression of the road bridge being delivered through the Clyde Waterfront and Renfrew Riverside (Image: Supplied)

Glasgow Times: The development is set to link Clydebank and RenfrewshireThe development is set to link Clydebank and Renfrewshire (Image: Supplied)

It has been built by civil engineering specialists GRAHAM as part of the Clyde Waterfront and Renfrew Riverside project and contracts manager Jim Armour explained the venture is right on track.

He said: "Design and construction of the new culvert was a fantastic team effort and we worked closely with ecologists to ensure the completed channel supports sustainability and local wildlife.

“Moving the culvert allows us to prepare the area where the bridge will go on the north side of the river and over the coming months, we are continuing to build the cofferdams which gives us a dry working area to construct the bridge piers.

“The open-air culvert is just one example of our commitment to sustainability during construction."

The as-yet-unnamed bridge will provide direct road access between Renfrew and the boundary between Clydebank and Glasgow.

The project, first mooted in 2014, is being jointly funded by the UK and Scottish Governments as part of the £1.13 billion Glasgow City Region's 'city deal' initiative.

City deal officials claim communities on both sides of the Clyde are already benefiting, with on-site jobs and training opportunities during construction and a £3.5m supply chain boost to business.

However, support for the idea – part of a £90m regeneration scheme for the south bank of the Clyde – has always been lukewarm from many councillors and officials in West Dunbartonshire, who previously questioned whether it offers value for money and have expressed concern over the possible economic impact on shops and businesses in Clydebank.