by Vivienne Nicoll, Evening Times
The steel skeleton of the landmark £74million Riverside Museum
has begun to rise from the ground.
Motorists passing the huge site of the new transport museum on
the banks of the Clyde can see the start of what will be an iconic
new building.
But the 100 workers on the project have had to battle dreadful
weather to get it this far.
The steelwork for the structure will be carried out in seven
phases and is due to be completed in May next year.
Phase one is complete, phase two is well under way and phase
three has just begun.
Jim Ward, construction manager of contractor HBG, said: "Last
Tuesday, when it rained the entire day, we were still on site until
4pm - probably one of the only jobs in Scotland to be working.
"We were pouring concrete and erecting steel in horrendous
conditions and the guys had mud up to their knees.
"Weather like we have had this summer affects morale and slows
things down a bit but ours is a hard industry as we have to be out
in all conditions.
"A lot of other jobs would stop but we have carried on."
The latest phase of the work is when the highly unusual roof
takes shape.
Mr Ward said: "The roof will look like a roller coaster."
In total, the complex building designed by architect Zaha Hadid,
will require 2500 tonnes of steel of which 400 tonnes is already in
place.
The building is due for completion in August 2010.
Reproduced with the permission of The Evening Times (Glasgow) ©
Newsquest (Herald & Times) Ltd.