The new road serving Paisley Grammar School Community Campus has officially been named New Grammar Road, marking the completion of the first phase of Renfrewshire Council's major AMIDS South transport project.
New Grammar Road is accessed via a new junction with Renfrew Road and is part of a series of improvements delivering safer access to the new school.
The work is just the first phase of the much larger £59 million project which will better connect Paisley town centre to Glasgow Airport and the Advanced Manufacturing Innovation District Scotland (AMIDS)
This will see New Grammar Road continue west to a new road bridge across the White Cart River, joining with Inchinnan Road and allowing better access to the airport and AMIDS.
Paisley Grammar School Community Campus will welcome pupils for the first time on Thursday 20 August, two days later than most other Renfrewshire schools, allowing staff additional time to prepare the new campus ahead of pupils arriving.
Councillor Iain Nicolson, Leader of Renfrewshire Council, said:
The opening of New Grammar Road is another significant milestone, both for Paisley Grammar School Community Campus and for the wider regeneration of this part of Paisley.
The new road does much more than provide access to a fantastic new school. It improves connections across the area, creates safer routes for people walking, wheeling and cycling and lays the foundations for future investment through the wider AMIDS South project.
As we prepare to welcome pupils into their new school, it's fitting that the road serving the campus now has a name that reflects the proud history of Paisley Grammar School while looking ahead to its future.
The first phase of the project, being delivered by main contractors Farrens, has transformed the area surrounding the new campus. It has delivered the section of New Grammar Road serving the school, while the remainder of the road will be completed as part of the next phase of the wider AMIDS South project.
The completed section links to the wider Paisley to Renfrew active travel route which runs behind West College Scotland and connects to the new Gallowhill Link, providing a safe route under Renfrew Road for pupils travelling to the school.
The council has also delivered a series of improvements along Renfrew Road, such as upgraded pedestrian crossings, widened footways, relocated bus stops and road signs, resurfaced roads and pavements, and new pedestrian safety measures.
AMIDS South has been funded through an investment of £18.8 million from Renfrewshire Council and £38.7 million from the UK Government’s Levelling Up Fund.
Construction activity will continue around Abercorn Street and Harbour Road over the coming months as work progresses towards the new bridge. The next phase of works will focus on completing the road layout and connections in this area.
To allow this work to be carried out safely, temporary waiting and loading restrictions will be introduced on sections of Abercorn Street, Harbour Road and Hamilton Street.
David Buchanan, Project Manager, Farrans, said:
Our team is making excellent progress at the AMIDS South project, and we are looking forward to meeting our first milestone as planned and opening New Grammar Road ahead of the school term beginning.
The nature of this site and its position on a main arterial route for the town has made collaboration with local residents, businesses and our client particularly important to minimise disruption.
We would like to thank the local community for its patience as we continue with our works.
With the opening of Paisley Grammar School Community Campus approaching, Renfrewshire Council have issued detailed travel guidance to all parents and carers.
The guidance explains the safest ways for pupils to travel to and from the new campus, including walking and cycling routes, school and public transport, drop-off arrangements, parking information and the new road layout around the school.
Parents and carers are encouraged to read the guidance before the start of term to help ensure a safe and smooth journey on the first day.
Further information about upcoming roadworks and temporary traffic management can be found on the council's website and more information on AMIDS South can be found at www.renfrewshire.gov.uk/AMIDS-South.