Renfrew Bridge shut for months after Storm Boelo damage as bid launched to revive ferry

The £117 million Renfrew Bridge, which opened only last year, is to be closed for months after Storm Boelo flooded the systems that make it work. And it has raised a question few expected to hear again: could the Renfrew Ferry return?

The bridge across the Clyde between Renfrew and Yoker opened in May 2025, replacing a ferry crossing that had run for more than 240 years. It carries cars, pedestrians and cyclists and swings open to let ships pass.

What went wrong?

During the storm at the weekend, water caused extensive damage to the electrical systems that operate the bridge's hydraulics. Renfrewshire Council says it will be closed for months while repairs are carried out.

Because of a legal obligation to keep the river open to shipping, the bridge has to stay in its open position, meaning no one can cross it at all. Road traffic is being diverted to the Clyde Tunnel or the Erskine Bridge.

Back to the ferry?

The owner of the Renfrew Ferry said on social media that people had been getting in touch asking whether the service could be brought back while the bridge is out of action.

He said he was not committing to anything, but wanted to see whether there was enough community interest to explore a crowdfunder for a new boat. A later update said a feasibility study had been launched, and organisers are looking for people with different skills to help.

They said it would be a community-led effort and there was no guarantee the ferry would return, but that it was worth a proper try.

It is not yet clear what regulations a revived service would need to meet, or how long it might take.

A blow for commuters

For people who have come to rely on the bridge to get between Renfrew and Glasgow's north side, the closure means longer journeys for the foreseeable future. Renfrewshire Council has not yet given a date for the bridge to reopen.