60 years of Glasgow's Clyde Tunnel in unseen photos

Ferries using the river were struggling to cope with the volume of traffic, and it was considered impractical to build a road bridge with a high enough clearance for ships, as the docks were still in use.

There was also a lack of space on both banks of the river, so the idea was born for a tunnel to be built with a 6% gradient – making it the steepest of any highway tunnel in the world at that time.

Beginning construction in 1957, the Clyde Tunnel cost £10.5m – the equivalent of £180m in 2023 – and six years to build.

It was opened by Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip on July 3, 1963, and today, a whole batch of never-before-seen photographs have been released to celebrate 60 years.  

It remains the only road tunnel in Scotland and over its 60-year run, it has helped more than 25 million vehicles, cyclists and pedestrians get where they need to go.

First learner driver in the Clyde Tunnel, 1963 (Image: Newsquest)

Now, for the first time, the public can see the story of the Clyde Tunnel captured by the photographs which have been collated by the Scottish Roads Archive.

The images reveal the early tunnelling work carried out by sixteen miners, the installation of the cladding, lighting and ventilation and the tunnel being used in its early days.

Viewers will also notice the dramatic changes six decades of development have brought to Glasgow’s landscape since the tunnel opened, and a booklet accompanying the photos contains further details on the project.

Councillor Ruairi Kelly, Glasgow City Council’s convener for neighbourhood services and assets, has hailed the achievements of the engineers who built the tunnel.

He said: “Sixty years on, the Clyde Tunnel remains a stunning feat of engineering.

“The tunnel has been such fixture in the city’s roads network for so long, it is easy to overlook the incredible skill and commitment involved in its construction.

“The pictures that have been released highlight the significant challenges faced by those who built the tunnel. They are also a fascinating step back in time to a very different Glasgow.

“The tunnel has now been an integral part of Glasgow’s road system for decades and is still unique within the national network.

“We monitor and maintain the tunnel on a 24-hour-a-day basis and we are investing substantial sums to ensure it remains operational for decades to come.”

Stuart Baird of the Scottish Roads Archive said: “We're delighted to release these photos on the 60th anniversary of the Clyde Tunnel's completion.

“The tunnel has a fascinating history behind it and remains one of the most ambitious civil engineering projects ever constructed in Scotland. It's no surprise it's become such a well-loved landmark."

Control room (Image: Scottish Roads Archive)

The tunnel has become a recognisable and much-loved feature of our city, serving daily commuters, tourists, and anyone passing through.

It also popularised the game of attempting to hold one's breath for the entire duration of travelling through the tunnel - which, if traffic was heavy, could be a real challenge. 

Plans are continuing to be made to enhance and preserve the tunnel for yet more decades to come. New lighting and CCTV has been installed and a further £3.45m is planned to be invested in the tunnel by 2025 to improve features such as traffic control, ventilation and its information and alarm systems.