Part of Sauchiehall Street reopens after months of closure

Fencing has been removed from the western end of the pedestrianised section of the famous street between Rose Street and Cambridge Street.

Much of the pedestrian precinct has been closed off while work on the Avenues programme takes place.

Sauchiehall Street, Glasgow showing an area that is nearing completion as part of the Avenues programme. Fencing that surrounded the works has recently been removed from this area. (Image: Colin Mearns)

In September, we reported that a timetable for when the work on Sauchiehall Street would be completed had been produced.

Work between Rose Street and Hope Street is expected to be finished this month.

It is hoped that all fencing will be off-site and the street will be open to the public between December 19 and January 7, 2025.

(Image: Colin Mearns)

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Similarly, the work at Cambridge Street is due to be completed at the same time.

There will then be some tree planting early next year.

(Image: Colin Mearns)

(Image: Colin Mearns)

Work will then move down the street to the stretch between Hope Street and West Nile Street.

The whole project is due to be finished and open to the public by April 2025.

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Why is the work being carried out?

The aim is to improve the appearance of the street, which has suffered from a series of major fires and empty shops.

Not only that but the work involves contractors preparing a new drainage system.

Sauchiehall Street, Glasgow showing an area that is under construction as part of the Avenues programme. (Image: Colin Mearns)

This includes planting trees that will ease pressure on the main sewer network and allow development to process in other streets.

A Glasgow City Council official previously told the Glasgow Times that the sewerage network is at capacity and is a block to new development.

The newly installed drainage system will see rainwater go into the tree pits, not the drainage network as it does just now.

The tree pit is a root management system that directs where the roots grow to create healthier trees.

Beneath the pits where the trees will be planted is a line of plastic cages that will contain the roots and soak up the rainwater.

Anything left goes into the drains and into the River Clyde.

This is what is being installed now at the western end of the precinct and what will be used in other Avenues projects.