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Purple Route - Main Gate to St Andrews Building

University of Glasgow, Glasgow, G12 8QQ

Access Guide

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Introduction

  • This route plan covers the journey from the Main Gate on University Avenue to the St Andrews Building on Eldon Street.
    The journey is approximately 760m (0.5 mile).
    For those without mobility difficulties it may take about 10 minutes to cover.
    From the Main Gate towards Kelvin Way there is a 250m long moderate downhill slope along University Avenue.
    This section may be challenging to those with mobility difficulties, including the return journey.
    An alternative section of this route has also been included which describes a route along Gibson Street, across the River Kelvin to Eldon Street using dropped kerbs.
    There is a bus stop across from the Main Gate which can overcome most of the slope using the simpliCITY 4/4A service every 15 minutes which takes 3 minutes to Eldon Street.
    This route also incorporates access to McIntyre Building, Glasgow University Union, Gilmorehill Centre and Sir Charles Wilson Building along the route.

Access to the McIntyre Building

  • The McIntyre Building can be accessed before leaving the main gate and campus.
  • It is on the right as you exit, or just beyond the left main gate as you face the main campus.
  • There are easy ramps from either side of the pavement for the reception entrance.
  • There is also access from University Avenue near the left main gate.
  • Link to McIntyre Building.

Exit the Main Gate

  • Exit the left main gate (as viewed from University Avenue - photograph 1) and turn right onto University Avenue.
  • If exiting from the gate on the right as you face the main gate, cross the pedestrianised entrance road towards the left gate.
  • The main gate entrance road is level to the kerbs without tactile paving on either side.
  • The wide pavements in this area have a paved surface.

Turn Right onto University Avenue

  • Continue down University Avenue towards the front gates.
  • There is some tactile paving for the traffic lights on the left which extends across the whole pavement.
  • There is an easy slope throughout.

Cross the Access-Only University Gate Junction

  • Cross the road entrance to the closed university gates which should not be used by traffic.
  • If these gates happen to be open please take more care when crossing.
  • There are pedestrian gates to the campus on either side.
  • The pedestrian gate on the right offers step free access.
  • There are dropped kerbs without tactile paving on both sides.
  • Continue on down University Avenue.

Continue Down University Avenue

  • Keep going down the hill in front of the University until the pedestrian crossing to the opposite side.
  • The slope is easy to moderate towards the bottom.

Cross University Avenue and Turn Right

  • Cross University Avenue using the pedestrian crossing.
  • There are lowered kerbs with tactile marking on both sides.
  • There are turning cones to assist visually impaired people beneath all controls at this crossing.
  • There is a moderate slope running down University Avenue from left to right as you cross.

Continue Down University Avenue Towards Kelvin Way

  • Once across, turn right and follow the pavement down and round to the left towards Kelvin Way.
  • There is a moderate to easy slope down over a concrete surface which has some slightly uneven parts in places.

Follow the Road Round to the Left onto Kelvin Way

  • Continue along the pavement as University Avenue curves round to the left joining Kelvin Way.
  • There are bollards on the right beside the road, a bicycle rack on the left and a road sign in the centre of the pavement to be aware of.
  • There is an easy slope which levels out further round Kelvin Way.
  • The Gilmorehill Centre Halls are opposite here but more safely accessed via the pedestrian crossing.
  • The Glasgow University Union Building is to the left.

Access to Glasgow University Union

  • There is a gap in the wall which leads back round and down the slope to the accessible entrance.
  • Further along Kelvin Way are the steps to the main entrance.
  • Link to Glasgow University Union.

Continue Along Kelvin Way to the Crossroads

  • Continue along Kelvin Way towards the crossroads junction at the traffic lights.
  • There is a raised pavement for a bus stop to the left and still an easy slope until the adjoining road straightens.
  • There is a railing to the right near the pedestrian crossing to be used.
  • The surface changes to tarmac just before the crossing.

Turn Right and Cross Kelvin Way

  • Use the first set of traffic lights to turn right and cross Kelvin Way, towards the corner of Kelvin Way and Gibson Street.
  • There are turning cones to assist visually impaired people beneath the controls at this crossing.
  • The controls can also be operated contactless by using a hand sensor beneath.
  • There are dropped kerbs with tactile paving on both sides.

Access to the Gilmorehill Centre

  • Turn right once across the road if going to the Gilmorehill Centre Halls.
  • There is a concrete surface when turning right after the crossing.
  • Follow the road straight along over a raised bus stop kerb.
  • There is an open gate leading to the ramp for an accessible entrance before the stepped main entrance.
  • Link to Gilmorehill Centre.

Turn Left onto Gibson Street

  • After the Kelvin Way crossing, turn left and follow the pavement round to the right down Gibson Street.
  • There is some further tactile paving for another crossing at the crossroads and a moderate slope down past the Sir Charles Wilson Building.
  • For an alternative route using the pedestrian crossing across Gibson Street here check the "Alternative Gibson Street Crossing" section. The opposite side route reduces the number of remaining crossings from 5 to 4 with 2 of those being pedestrian crossings compared to standard quieter road crossings.

Access to the Sir Charles Wilson Building

  • From the Kelvin Way crossing there is stepped entry to the Sir Charles Wilson Building just along to the right.
  • The accessible entrance is a little further down Gibson Street round to the right, at the rear corner of the building.
  • There is a moderate slope down Gibson Street to the rear side of the building.
  • Link to Sir Charles Wilson Building.

Continue Down Gibson Street and Cross the Westbank Lane Junction

  • Continue down Gibson Street past the Sir Charles Wilson Building towards West Bank Lane at the rear.
  • At the end of the building cross the narrow Westbank Lane.
  • There are lowered kerbs without tactile paving on each side.

Continue Along Gibson Street and Cross Otago Street

  • Continue down Gibson Street passing Hillhead Primary School on the right.
  • There is an easy slope which levels out towards the Otago Street Junction.
  • Cross Otago Street at the junction where there are lowered kerbs without tactile paving on both sides.

Continue Past the Shops on Gibson Street

  • Continue along Gibson Street past the strip of shops on the right.
  • There is a tarmac surface with some tactile paving for a pedestrian crossing halfway along.
  • Keep going towards the Westbank Quadrant junction before the bridge over the River Kelvin.

Cross Westbank Quadrant onto Eldon Street

  • Cross the narrow Westbank Quadrant junction onto the Kelvin Bridge.
  • There is a dropped kerb without tactile paving on the near side, and a lowered kerb on the far side.
  • Gibson Street now becomes Eldon Street at the bridge.
  • The bridge is level and the pavement has a concrete surface.

Cross the Bridge and Continue along Eldon Street

  • After the bridge over the River Kelvin the pavement surface changes to tarmac.
  • Continue on past the gates to Kelvingrove Park on the right where there is some tactile paving for a crossing to the left.
  • Follow Eldon Road along and slightly round to the left as it becomes an easy uphill slope.
  • There are some uneven patches in places.

Alternative Gibson Street Route With Dropped Kerbs

  • After crossing Kelvin Way onto Gibson Street use the set of traffic lights directly on the left to cross and use the other side of Gibson Street.
  • There are dropped kerbs with tactile paving on both sides.
  • Once across turn right and follow Gibson Street down towards the junction at Otago Street.
  • There is a concrete surface with an easy slope immediately after the pedestrian crossing.
  • Cross Otago Street at the junction and continue straight ahead on Gibson Street.
  • There are lowered kerbs without tactile paving on both sides.
  • Continue onwards past the shops where there is now tarmac surface and pass one pedestrian crossing which has tactile paving across the pavement.
  • Shortly after the tactile paving the surface changes to concrete where there are some uneven patches in places and a lowered kerb at one area.
  • Continue over the River Kelvin Bridge towards the next pedestrian crossing which has an easy slope before it.
  • Use this crossing back to the original route and turn left one across.
  • There are lowered kerbs and tactile paving on both sides of the road at the crossing.

Cross the Access Road after the Bus Stop

  • Follow Eldon Road along and pass the bus shelter on the left before the start of the St Andrews Building.
  • Following the bus stop is an access road into the St Andrews Building which has a block paving surface.
  • Cross the narrow access road which has dropped kerbs without tactile paving on both sides.

Access the St Andrews Building

  • Continue along in front of the St Andrews Building until the next access road.
  • There is a curve round to the right and the pavement has an easy camber throughout.
  • There is a dropped kerb without tactile paving to the road up to the building.
  • There are four clearly marked bollards at the bottom of the access road.
  • Turn right and follow the block paving road up a moderate slope to the entrance.
  • You have arrived.
  • Link to St Andrews Building.