Renfrew Bridge to be closed for months after extensive damage caused by 22ft storm surge

Renfrew Bridge will remain closed to road traffic for several months following extensive damage caused by Storm Boelo.

The cable-stayed swing bridge, which connects Renfrew to Yoker, has two operating rooms; however, heavy rain from Storm Boelo has caused extensive damage to the electronic systems which control the hydraulics on the Renfrew side of the bridge.

This means the bridge will remain closed for “a number of months” while repairs are carried out.

Renfrewshire Council is legally obligated to allow river traffic to pass, meaning the bridge will stay open during the repairs, effectively closing the route off to road traffic.

The storm surge on Saturday night meant the River Clyde rose by around 22ft at Renfrew, the highest level since 1998 and twice what was forecast.

The council’s head of climate, public protection and roads, Gerard Hannah, said work was under way to inspect the bridge and restore its full function.

He said: “We’re very sorry for the inconvenience this will cause all those who use the bridge.

“We have two operating rooms, one on each side of the river, which manage the opening and closing of the bridge. While one side suffered minimal impact from the high water levels, the plant on the Renfrew side sustained significant damage to the electrical systems required to operate the bridge.

“Urgent work is under way to identify the issues behind the damage and get the bridge back into action as soon as possible. We’ll keep the public updated with further details as the work progresses.”

The Renfrew Bridge opened in May last year and is the latest crossing over the River Clyde, with its design allowing it to swing out of the way to allow ships to pass.

Drivers who wish to travel between Renfrew and Yoker/Clydebank will now be forced to use either the Clyde Tunnel or the Erskine Bridge during the repairs.