Drivers are being urged to plan ahead as bridge repairs and 10 weeks of lane closures begin at Paisley Gilmour Street station in January.

Network Rail will repair girders on the underside of the bridge at the station to strengthen the structure and extend its lifespan by another 25 years.

Work will begin on Thursday, January 4 and will finish on Thursday, March 14.

As part of the £500k programme, engineers will complete the work during nightshift hours - 10pm to 6am on Sundays to Thursdays and 10pm to 8am on Saturdays.

A traffic management plan and associated signage has been agreed with the local authority and will be in place during this time.

Pedestrians and cyclists will be able to continue to travel safely under the bridge via the footpath for the duration of the work and train services will also be unaffected.

The Gazette:

Jason Haxton, Network Rail’s project manager for the work, said: "The work to strengthen the structure and carry out other repairs on this railway bridge is part of our commitment to providing a safe and reliable railway.

"While we need a lane closure to deliver the work safely and efficiently, we will maintain access for pedestrians and cyclists to minimise the impact of the closure.

"I'd like to thank road users and local residents for their patience as we carry out this vital improvement work."

With the bridge being designated a B-list structure, care will be taken to restore any brick work to its original form.

In the course of the work, it is necessary to take down the surrounding stonework in order to expose the girders which extend behind the wall. 

Specialist engineers will then add 25 steel plates to strengthen the beams. The stone will be set aside and reinstated on completion of the repairs.

If anyone has any questions or needs further information on the work, they can contact Network Rail's national helpline on 03457 114141.