Work is underway to assess and repair serious water damage to the electrical systems that operate the Renfrew Bridge following Storm Boelo at the weekend.
Extensive damage in one of the two operating plant rooms means the bridge will have to remain closed to road traffic for a number of months to allow Clyde river traffic to operate normally while the necessary repairs are carried out.
The electronic systems controlling the hydraulics on the Renfrew side of the bridge were significantly damaged in the incident.
Renfrewshire Council’s Head of Climate, Public Protection and Roads, Gerard Hannah, said work was underway to assess the full circumstances and restore the full function of the bridge.
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 suffered significant damage to the electrical systems required to operate the bridge.
Urgent work is underway 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 council is legally obligated to keep the Clyde open to river traffic and as such, the swing bridge will remain in an open position to allow essential passing river traffic.
The exceptional tidal surge on Saturday night saw the Clyde water level reach 6.7metres at Renfrew, the highest since digital records began in 1998 and more than twice the level forecast.
Temporary measures to open the swing bridge are being put in place today (Wednesday 28 October) to allow scheduled river vessels to pass.