A HISTORIC bridge is to receive a £1.4million facelift.
Paisley's Abbey Bridge will be resurfaced and refurbished next year after a study showed the 129-year-old crossing was in "very poor condition".
Contractors will spend around six months renewing steel girders, replacing decorative panels and strengthening pavements.
It's hoped the project will be carried out in phases to ease the disruption to traffic using the bridge, which crosses the White Cart Water and sits in the shadow of Paisley Abbey.
Bob Darracott, Renfrewshire Council's director of planning and transport, said: "The bridge is an essential element of the road network through Paisley.
"Inspection of the steel girders below the carriageway revealed that, in order to extend the life of this essential structure, measures would have to be implemented to arrest the corrosion.
"The dilapidated cast iron parapets and fascia panels will be replaced with identical components fabricated from a more robust iron."
Workmen will grit blast the bridge's steel support girders and apply protective paint.
A number of heavily corroded side panels have already been removed ahead of the refurbishment.
Mr Darracott added: "This project will secure the future of this bridge and significantly reduce future maintenance expenditure."
The crossing will come under further pressure over the next few years as housing developments spring up nearby.
A £22m plan to build 133 flats overlooking Paisley Abbey has already been given the go-ahead while others are in the pipeline.
TIMES FILE
Abbey Bridge, which carries Bridge Street over the White Cart Water in Paisley, was built in 1879.
Stone from a derelict part of Paisley Abbey was used in its construction.
The bridge was widened in 1933.
A recent study found the 129-year-old bridge to be in "very poor" condition.
The refurbishment will start early next year and take around six months to complete.
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