Glasgow City Council has announced changes to traffic flow in the city centre to coincide with the closure of the road on the Southern side of George Square for building works.

With upcoming works to focus on the southern edge George Square where new granite setts will be installed to form a stone‑paved roadway, the road between Cochrane Street and Queen Street, which currently operates as a bus gate, will close to all vehicles from 6am on Monday 11 May until 30 August. The footway will remain open, with pedestrian access maintained throughout the works.

The Council says: “Significant progress has already been made to reimagine George Square - a total of 49 new trees have now been planted, statue plinths have been repositioned, stone road surfacing is currently being installed on the north side of the square, and stone pavements have been completed on all sides.”

During the road closer, a new westbound bus gate will come into force on the same day (Monday 11 May) at the junction of Ingram Street and Queen Street.

The new bus gate was already planned as part of a new People First Zone to prioritise pedestrians in the city centre.

It will operate seven days a week (7am-7pm): “Once live, only authorised vehicles (buses, taxis, cycles and commercial vehicles) will be permitted to turn right from Ingram Street onto Queen Street.

“The new bus gate will operate alongside the existing 24-hour eastbound bus gate already in place at the Queen Street/Ingram Street junction.”

Large electronic signage boards installed across the area to highlight the upcoming change.

Affect on Traffic

The council states: “Drivers who would normally travel west via the Ingram Street and Queen Street junction can divert towards Clyde Street, accessing the Broomielaw via Glassford Street, or can use the M8 at Junction 15 via the southbound Springburn Expressway.

“Road users are encouraged to plan ahead using online mapping tools and satellite navigation systems to identify the most efficient routes. Public transport information is also available via Traveline Scotland.”

Glasgow's People First Zone

Glasgow's PFZ is an initiative designed to “prioritise pedestrians, accessibility and sustainable travel within a greener, more welcoming city centre”. Earlier this year, the first phase delivered a redesigned step‑free junction at Ingram Street and Queen Street, along with new footway build‑outs on both streets.

In addition to the bus gate, the project will see 13 new street trees, planted in stone planters.