Renfrew Bridge

The Renfrew Bridge is a road and pedestrian bridge spanning the River Clyde in West Dunbartonshire and Renfrewshire, built as part of the ongoing Clyde Waterfront Regeneration. Opened to the public on 9 May 2025, it is the first new vehicle crossing point on the Clyde since the Clyde Arc bridge was built in 2006.^[1][2][3]

Renfrew Bridge
Renfrew Bridge
Coordinates	55.8891423°N 4.3928917°W / 55.8891423; -4.3928917
Carries	Motor vehicles, cyclists and pedestrians
Crosses	River Clyde
Locale	West Dunbartonshire / Renfrewshire, Scotland
Characteristics
Longest span	184 m (604 ft)
History
Construction cost	£117 million
Opened	9 May 2025
Replaces	Renfrew Ferry
Statistics
Toll	Free
Location

Proposal

The old Renfrew Ferry service, a short distance upstream (east) of the new bridge location

Renfrewshire Council proposed a new road bridge to be built between Renfrew and Yoker/Clydebank (the north landing point being on the boundary between the City of Glasgow and West Dunbartonshire local authority areas).^[4][5] The site of the bridge is a short distance downstream (west) from the former Renfrew Ferry service. As the Clyde is still used for shipbuilding upriver of the proposed crossing at BAE Systems' yards in Scotstoun and Govan, a moveable bridge structure was required to let vessels pass up and down the river. Initial estimates for construction were £50 million, using City Deal funding.^[6][7][8]

In late 2018 the project was approved by the Scottish Government,^[9] but West Dunbartonshire Council later objected to the bridge with concerns about traffic levels.^[10] However, in February 2019, members of West Dunbartonshire Council's IRED committee unanimously voted to drop the council's objection to the project.^[11]

History

Construction

First section, on barge passing Portkil Bay, Firth of Clyde, in April 2024

The two main sections of the bridge were pre-constructed in the Netherlands, and transported by barge to the site in early 2024, to be installed over the course of that year.^[12][13]

Opening

South section of the bridge undergoing testing prior to opening

The bridge was opened at midday on 9 May 2025, in a ceremony attended by locals as well as children from primary schools in Renfrew, Clydebank, and Yoker.^[14]

Renfrew ferry

Main article: Renfrew Ferry

Renfrew Ferry

The Renfrew ferry initially continued operating after the bridge opened on 9 May 2025;^[15] however, the service ceased operation on 31 May, with the operator Clydelink stating that the bridge had reduced passenger numbers to an unsustainable level.^[16][17]

Bus Operations

McGill's Buses (left); First Glasgow (right)

Local groups were in discussion before and after the bridge's opening in an attempt to secure a bus route crossing the bridge - this would be even more important due to the Renfrew ferry ceasing operations on 31 May 2025, making travelling between the two sides without a vehicle increasingly difficult.^[17] Discussions between Renfrew Community Council and McGill's Buses resulted in McGill's looking into the possibility of running a route over the bridge, but as of 13 June 2025 this had yet to be introduced.^[18] On the same date, First Glasgow announced that as of present it could not operate services over the bridge, citing unpredictability as the result of closures.^[19]

See also

• Govan–Partick Bridge, similar contemporaneous project upriver