Key Points
- Work on the Queen Street and St Vincent Place junction is due to begin on August 4.
- The junction will be closed to all vehicles for about 10 weeks.
- Pedestrian access will be maintained during the works.
- A phased reopening of George Square is already under way.
- The square is expected to be fully back in public use by the end of October.
- Refurbished statues are due to return in early August.
- A family event and street play activities are planned for early September.
- Diversion routes and changes to bus gate arrangements will be in place during the work.
Glasgow (Glasgow Express) July 29, 2026 – George Square’s long-running redevelopment is moving into another major phase, with work due to begin next week on the Queen Street and St Vincent Place junction as the wider project approaches its final stages. As reported by the Glasgow Live news desk, and reflected in coverage from BBC News, the city council says the square is already reopening in phases, with full public access expected by the end of October.
What is starting on Queen Street?
The next stage of the redevelopment is scheduled to begin on August 4, when work starts at the Queen Street and St Vincent Place junction.
According to Glasgow Live, the job will take around 10 weeks and will include granite surfacing, widened pavements and the installation of new traffic lights.
The council says the junction will be closed to all vehicles while the work is carried out. However, pedestrian access will remain open, and arrangements will be made to allow service vehicles to reach nearby premises.
As reported by Glasgow Live, the council has described the Queen Street junction reconstruction as a crucial part of the overall redevelopment, because it will become the main route through the square for westbound traffic and an important entrance point for people arriving on foot.
How will traffic and access change?
During the works, access to St Vincent Place will be via West George Street and Anchor Lane. The bus gate at Nelson Mandela Place will remain in place, but an exemption for goods vehicles will apply while construction is under way.
Glasgow Live also reports that a loading bay will be created on St Vincent Place between Anchor Lane and George Square to help service vehicles reach local businesses.
At the same time, the bus gates at Queen Street and Ingram Street will be suspended, and Queen Street will become a temporary two-way street between the junction and Ingram Street.
To keep traffic moving, a diversion route for northbound and westbound vehicles will run along Ingram Street, High Street, George Street, Montrose Street, Cathedral Street, North Hanover Street, Killermont Street and West Nile Street. Drivers and bus passengers are being advised to plan ahead and check for service changes.
What stage is George Square at now?
The redevelopment is already in its phased reopening stage. BBC News reported that the square’s gradual reopening is under way, with the first stretch along the northern carriageway already back in use.
Glasgow Live similarly says the north carriageway and footways are already open, with further sections reopening as work is completed.
The western section of the square is due to open by the end of August, and BBC News reported that the final barriers are expected to be removed by the end of October.
Glasgow Live also reports that families are expected to be invited to a street play event in early September to mark another milestone in the project.
What else is due to return?
BBC News reported that George Square’s 11 bronze statues are due to return in early August, while work on the Sir Walter Scott Monument is nearing completion. Glasgow Live also says refurbished statues are expected back next month, alongside progress on paving and landscaping.
These works form part of the wider transformation of the square, which has been one of Glasgow’s most closely watched public realm projects.
The council has said that the aim is to reopen sections safely as soon as they are ready, rather than waiting for every last element to be finished before welcoming the public back.
What have the council said?
BBC News quoted Glasgow City Council leader Susan Aitken as saying the phased approach means people will be able to start using the renewed space before the whole project is fully complete.
She said the coming weeks should bring “significant advancements”, including the return of the statues and major progress on paving and landscaping.
Glasgow Live also quoted the council on the importance of the Queen Street junction, saying the completion of that part of the work will be a significant step towards finishing the square.
The council says it expects people to be welcomed back into the square in stages as each section is completed.
Background of the development
George Square has been the focus of a major redevelopment plan aimed at improving the layout, surfacing and public space around one of Glasgow uk/local/city-centre/">city centre’s best-known locations. The project has been delivered in stages, with different sections opening as work progresses.
The current phase includes new stone surfacing, traffic changes, widened pedestrian areas and restoration work on key monuments and statues.
Glasgow Live says the redevelopment is part of the £140 million Avenues and Avenues Plus programmes, which are now at their midpoint.
Prediction
For city centre workers, shoppers, commuters and visitors, the immediate effect is likely to be short-term disruption around Queen Street and St Vincent Place, especially for drivers and bus users.
If the current timetable holds, the longer-term result should be a more open and usable George Square, with improved walking space and a clearer layout for traffic and public events.
