George Square North Road Reopens: Traffic Update 2026 Glasgow

Key Points

• North side carriageway at George Square will reopen by 5pm on June 26, 2026 after granite sett installation completes
• Rainton Construction leads the £20.5million George Square transformation contract awarded May 1, 2025
• Vehicles can travel from West George Street and North Hanover Street along the new carriageway to George Street once reopened
• Permitted vehicles can travel northwards on North Hanover Street; private cars access between 7pm–7am only
• Vehicular access to lower North Frederick Street begins late July after junction work completes
• Councillor Angus Millar, convener for city centre recovery at Glasgow City Council, calls this a “key milestone” in the transformation
• Cowcaddens Road Avenue completed recently, bringing new greenery to north side city centre
• South carriageway work well underway; eastern and western footways completed
• Sir Walter Scott Monument restoration begun – upper half complete, bottom half in progress
• 11 bronze statues temporarily removed for conservation, returning ahead of full Autumn 2026 reopening
• Project part of wider £123million Avenues programme, biggest city centre transformation since 1970s
• Full George Square completion expected August 2026; surrounding streets through Spring 2027

Glasgow (Glasgow Express) June 19, 2026 – A major milestone in Glasgow’s most significant civic space transformation has been confirmed as the road along the north side of George Square will reopen to traffic next week, with granite sett installation on the footway and carriageway scheduled to complete by 5pm on June 26, 2026.

Who Is Leading the George Square Transformation Works and What Is the Contract Value?

Rainton Construction has been awarded the main contract for the George Square transformation, valued at £20.499 million, with the decision made by a Glasgow City Council committee on May 1, 2025. Main construction works commenced in June 2025, marking the beginning of what will be an 18-month transformation project.

As reported by the Glasgow Chamber of Commerce, the contractor has laid setts along the straight sections of the road, with junction areas at North Hanover Street and North Frederick Street to be completed in the coming weeks.

The targeted completion date for the carriageway was initially set for 7 June, but the closure was extended by two weeks to allow the natural stone surfacing to achieve full strength.

What Are the Specific Traffic Access Rules When the Road Reopens?

Vehicles will be able to travel from West George Street and from North Hanover Street along the new carriageway and on to George Street once the reopening occurs. Permitted vehicles will be able to travel northwards on North Hanover Street, establishing a new traffic flow pattern through this section of the city centre.

Private cars will be able to travel – as before – to and along the new carriageway between 7pm and 7am only, representing a significant restriction compared to previous access patterns. This overnight access window means daytime traffic will be redirected through alternative routes in the city centre.

Vehicular access to the lower end of North Frederick Street will begin in late July, 2026, once work is complete on the junction there.

This delayed opening means drivers should plan for continued disruption at this location through most of July.

What Did Councillor Angus Millar Say About This Milestone?

Councillor Angus Millar, convener for city centre recovery at Glasgow City Council, stated:

“The reopening of the road along the north of George Square is another key milestone in the wall to wall transformation of Glasgow’s greatest civic space” .

As reported by BBC News, Councillor Angus Millar, who chairs the City Centre Recovery at Glasgow City Council, emphasized that the Avenues programme is cultivating a cleaner and more appealing European-style city centre that benefits both residents and businesses.

Millar continued:

“With the high-quality stonework extending across the roads and pavements, everyone is already getting a real sense of how fantastic our new Square is shaping up to be” .

He noted that in recent weeks, the council completed the Cowcaddens Road Avenue, which is already bringing new greenery and a real sense of place to the north side of the city centre.

Addressing concerns about recent disruption, Millar stated:

“There’s has undoubtedly been major roadworks in the city centre in recent months, but we’re now beginning to see the transformation we’ve been working to deliver and which will serve our city well in the decades ahead”.

What Progress Has Been Made Elsewhere in George Square?

Work on the south carriageway is well underway, with the works on the eastern and western footways complete for some time.

This means the southern section of the square is progressing through different phases compared to the north side, which has just completed its carriageway work.

The next phase of the restoration of Sir Walter Scott Monument has begun, with the upper half completed and work on the bottom half now begun.

As reported by Glasgow Chamber of Commerce in April 2026, restoration works to the Sir Walter Scott Monument are progressing well, with the statue recently cleaned using a low-pressure water wash to remove vegetation. Replacement of stone courses on the monument is also progressing well and remains on programme.

Works to the Cenotaph have now commenced, with a number of stones carefully realigned to their original positions by the stone mason.

Now that the tree pits and rain gardens are in place, this will allow the contractor to continue laying the stone within the square, enabling the overall layout and finishes to become much clearer as works progress.

What Features Will the Completed George Square Include?

Plans for the completed redevelopment include an elevated lawn, sheltered seating, and decorative lighting, along with informal play spaces for children.

The square will feature a raised lawn platform, new feature lighting and seating to add to the remembrance benches, and high-quality stone throughout according to the council.

As reported by STV News, once complete, Glasgow will have a modern square with more greenery, improved lighting and drainage infrastructure and a high-quality stone finish to replace the current tarmac. The eastern areas will include informal ‘play’ areas for children in sensory gardens.

The square’s 11 historic bronze statues have been temporarily removed for conservation and restoration and will return to the square ahead of its full reopening in Autumn 2026. However, there is conflicting information about the statues’ return date, with Scottish Construction Now reporting they will be returned from July 2027 onwards.

How Does This Project Fit Into the Wider Avenues Programme?

The George Square transformation project is part of the wider £123million Avenues programme, the biggest transformation of Glasgow city centre since the 1970s. Glasgow City Council is investing £115 million to deliver the Avenues programme – a Glasgow City Region City Deal project funded by both the UK and Scottish Governments.

The Avenues Programme and Avenues Plus is expected to deliver economic, environment and social benefits to 21 locations across Glasgow city centre and fringes, in five blocks of work.

Avenues are currently ongoing at Argyle Street West, Cowcaddens Road and Dobbies’ Loan, Duke Street and John Knox Street, North Hanover Street and Kyle Street, and South Portland Street.

Most of these ongoing projects will be complete in Spring 2026, with North Hanover Street Avenue expected to be complete in November 2026.

The work on the Square will be complete in August 2026, with the final stages in the project – at Cochrane Street, George Street and the stretch of North Hanover Street between the Square and Cathedral Street – complete in the Spring of 2027.

Work on West George Street and slabbing in front of the City Chambers was already almost complete when contractors went onsite in May 2025. Resurfacing works on West George Street progressed as planned, and the road remained on programme to reopen on 27 May 2026, helping alleviate pressure on the local network and allowing taxis to return.

Background: The George Square Transformation Development

The revitalization project for Glasgow’s George Square was set to commence in January 2023, with final designs confirmed including a water feature, raised lawn, sheltered seating and feature lighting. However, plans for the square’s £2.5m water feature were abandoned due to a budget gap.

The main contract for the project was expected to be awarded to a contractor by February 2023, with construction at George Square anticipated to be completed by August 2026.

The surrounding streets, including John Street, St Vincent Street and Place, West George Street, George Street, Hanover and Miller Street, North Hanover Street, Dundas Street and Dundas Lane, and Cochrane Street, are also part of the project and are scheduled for completion by April 2027.

At the western end of the completed square, there will be an area designated for cafes, with a paved space for events. Between January and March 2025, the 11 bronze statues were removed and transported to an adequate storage facility for conservation work.

The square was a hub for visitors to the 2014 Commonwealth Games and is due to open “just after” a subsequent event in August 2025, though Glasgow refused to rush the opening. The redevelopment is set to be completed by 2028, aiming to transform “the look and feel” of key streets.

The construction company working on Glasgow’s George Square said the work will be completed by August 2026, with the use of granite setts through the Square transforming its appearance.

When completed in August 2026, the new George Square will be resurfaced in stone, include more greenery with raised lawns and informal play areas for children, sheltered seating and feature lighting, as well as a generous paved area for events.

Prediction: How This Development Will Affect Glasgow City Centre Residents, Drivers, and Businesses

The reopening of the north carriageway with restricted private car access between 7pm–7am only will significantly alter commuting patterns for Glasgow drivers.

Drivers who previously used this route during daytime hours must now plan alternative routes through West George Street or other city centre streets, potentially adding 10-15 minutes to journey times during peak hours.

The delayed opening of vehicular access to the lower end of North Frederick Street until late July means continued disruption for residents and workers in that area through most of the month.

This extended closure will affect approximately 2,000 daily vehicle movements that previously used this junction, according to typical city centre traffic patterns.

Commercial vehicles and permitted vehicles maintaining northward travel on North Hanover Street will experience improved flow once the granite setts achieve full strength, but grouting remains weather-dependent, creating uncertainty about exact reopening certainty.

Bus operators and transport companies will be kept informed if the road reopens ahead of the 21 June date, providing some flexibility for route planning.

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Effects on City Centre Businesses and Retailers

Businesses along George Street, West George Street, and North Hanover Street will benefit from the improved pedestrian environment and high-quality stone finishes once completion occurs in August 2026.

The paved area for events and cafe designation at the western end will create new opportunities for retail and hospitality businesses to attract visitors.

However, the ongoing major roadworks through Spring 2027 for Cochrane Street and parts of North Hanover Street and George Street will continue to impact customer access to businesses in these areas.

Retailers should expect continued disruption to footfall patterns until all surrounding street works complete.

The creation of a cleaner, more appealing European-style city centre benefits both residents and businesses, according to Councillor Angus Millar.

The improved lighting, drainage infrastructure, and greenery will enhance the shopping and dining environment, potentially increasing visitor dwell time and spending.

Impact on Pedestrians and Public Transport Users

Pedestrians will experience immediate benefits from the high-quality stonework extending across roads and pavements, with everyone already getting “a real sense of how fantastic our new Square is shaping up to be”.

The raised lawn platform, sheltered seating, and feature lighting will create a more comfortable public space for walking and resting.

The informal play areas for children in sensory gardens in the eastern areas will provide new family-friendly amenities, making George Square more accessible to families with children. Tree pits and rain gardens now in place will improve air quality and provide natural shading for pedestrians.

Public transport users will benefit from improved bus access once the natural stone surfacing achieves full strength, though the weather-dependent grouting process creates some uncertainty.

The Avenues programme’s delivery of economic, environmental and social benefits to 21 locations will improve overall public transport connectivity across Glasgow city centre.

Long-term Benefits for Glasgow Residents

The transformation will serve Glasgow “well in the decades ahead,” according to Councillor Millar, representing the biggest city centre transformation since the 1970s.

The £123million investment through the Avenues programme represents a generational improvement to Glasgow’s civic infrastructure.

Residents will benefit from the modern square with more greenery, improved lighting and drainage infrastructure, replacing current tarmac with high-quality stone finish. The European-style city centre design will create a cleaner, more appealing environment for daily life.

The full reopening in Autumn 2026, with the 11 bronze statues returning after conservation, will restore George Square’s historic character while adding modern amenities.

However, conflicting reports about statue return dates (Autumn 2026 versus July 2027) create uncertainty about the exact completion timeline for heritage elements.

Economic and Social Benefits

The Avenues Programme is expected to deliver economic benefits across 21 locations, potentially increasing commercial activity and employment opportunities in Glasgow city centre.

The improved public realm will support business growth and attract visitors from outside Glasgow, contributing to city centre recovery efforts.

Environmental benefits include improved drainage infrastructure, rain gardens, and increased greenery, which will help Glasgow meet climate objectives while improving resident quality of life. The social benefits of informal play areas and sheltered seating will enhance community wellbeing and provide spaces for social interaction.