The last exclusion zone inside Glasgow Central has been removed four months after a fire that badly damaged a nearby building.
The full station concourse reopened on Monday July 13 ahead of the reopening later this week of the remaining entrances which have been shut since the blaze in March.
The fire began in a vape shop on Union Street on Sunday March 8, before spreading through the building and around the corner, leading to the structure collapsing.
Only the facade of the B-listed Victorian building at the junction with Gordon Street near the station was left standing, but it was later demolished due to safety fears.
Glasgow City Council said that work to stabilise a gable at the site is now complete and the scaffolding has been removed.
Union Street will fully reopen to pedestrians and vehicles at 1pm on Friday July 17, once final works at the site are finished.
Network Rail Scotland said the Union Street and Gordon Street entrances of the station will also reopen that day.
Glasgow Central posted a video of the exclusion zone barriers being removed on social media on Monday and said: “Another step forward at Glasgow Central.
“The exclusion zone has now been removed, with work continuing ahead of the reopening of Union Street and Gordon Street station entrances on Friday.”
The city council has appointed architects to explore the “meanwhile use” of the Union Corner site before a permanent solution can be found.
Architectural firm O’Donnell Brown will develop plans for how the site can be used over the next four years or so.
Angus Millar, convener for city centre recovery at Glasgow City Council, said: “I would like to thank everyone affected by the fire and its aftermath for their patience, and pass on my gratitude to the council staff, our contractors and partners for the huge amount of work they have done to get us to this stage.”
