Clydeside Expressway to close on 23 October for COP26 conference

Drivers are being reminded that the A814 Clydeside Expressway in Glasgow will be closed from the Partick Interchange to J19 at Anderston, from 9pm on Saturday 23 October 2021 until 6am on Monday 15 November 2021.

This closure has been granted to help prepare for the imminent arrival of COP26 United Nations Climate Change Conference at the SEC, that starts 31 October and will run until 12 November 2021.

Glasgow City Council has been asked to close key route by event organisers as part of the security measures surrounding the conference. Some 140 world leaders are expected to attend COP26 for what have been described as ‘last chance’ talks aimed at agreeing action to slow down the devastating impact of climate change.

Alternative routes have been put in place and will be sign posted on the ground, but drivers are urged to plan their journeys in advance. They are being asked look at travelling outside peak times, consider if the journey is necessary at that time or at all and leaving the car, opting to travel in a different way, if possible.

On Monday 1 November there will be additional road closures around Argyle Street which is one of the main diversion routes, because of a COP26 event. This will increase congestion and put additional strain on the road network.

Friday 5 November and Saturday 6 November are also expected to be exceptionally busy, due to planned climate change related marches going from Kelvingrove Park into the city centre and Glasgow Green.

Information needed to plan ahead for these events is on the www.getreadyglasgow.com website including: full details of all the roads, footpaths and cycle ways that are going to be closed. The site also has details of all the alternative routes and day-by-day ‘heat’ maps which show where we expect there to be congestion because of specific COP26 events.

In addition to the Get Ready Glasgow website, Glasgow City Council has been communicating directly with the businesses and residents who live closest to the COP26 venues and are likely to suffer the most disruption. Some 9,000 letters have been sent to homes in the Anderston, Finnieston and Yorkhill areas with full details and maps of the road closures and parking restrictions.

Face-to-face drop-in sessions in Govan, west end and city centre have been held as well. Webinars and newsletters have also been part of the communications mix along with a huge travel public information campaign taking in social media, TV, radio, online advertising and newspapers.

The council has also taken the decision to close five schools and nurseries in the area closest to COP26 venues on 1 and 2 November. The establishments that have been granted an exceptional closure by the Scottish Government and their families have been sent communications to give them plenty of notice of the alternative learning for the two days due to road closures and security restrictions that will impact travel around their school or nursery. The decision reflects the feeling that children and young people’s learning will be better spent at home on these days instead of potentially being stuck on long journeys to and from school.