August 19 2025

Renfrewshire Council is investing £59m in new road and river routes, including a new tie arch bridge, to boost connectivity across the region.

The transport plan will link Paisley town centre to Glasgow Airport and the Advanced Manufacturing Innovation District Scotland along a 1.7km route alongside the White Cart River.

A new network of roads, cycling and walking links will reduce journey times and open up new opportunities for travel with additional feeder routes including a new connection to Renfrew Road serving the proposed Paisley Grammar. A former railway underpass beneath this route will be pressed back into service to provide safe access to the Gallowhill Link. under the plans.

Council Leader Iain Nicolson said: “This project will not only provide infrastructure to better connect communities to education and employment opportunities, but it will also significantly improve the offer to organisations looking to locate here with enhanced access to the airport and the fourth-busiest train station in Scotland."

Complementing the recently constructed Renfrew Bridge the crossing is to be built by Farrans Construction with a completion date pencilled in for 2028.

8 Comments

#1 Posted by Alex Stewart on 19 Aug 2025 at 18:47 PM

What a waste of money. Whats needed is a dedicated public transport link, the rail or light rail link to Paisley that's been spoken about for years. Instead we're going to end up with unused footpaths and cycle paths and more roads to a totally car unfriendly airport area.

#2 Posted by Kelvin Bricks on 19 Aug 2025 at 19:32 PM

Good to see the first comment from a typical doom monger. Where is this mythical light rail line going to run? Feegie to Ralston? Sure locals at both ends would be delighted...

#3 Posted by Georwell84 on 19 Aug 2025 at 20:08 PM

They will do anything except connect Glasgow Airport to the rail network. The supremacy of Edinburgh Airport must not be challenged.

#4 Posted by Paisley Buddie fae 'Feegie'. on 20 Aug 2025 at 12:25 PM

Renfrewshire Council?
Lots of money, lots of jobs, lots of toys, lots of boys, lots of meaningless connections going from nowhere to nowhere to the sound of one hand clapping. And that about covers it.

#5 Posted by Neil McAllister on 20 Aug 2025 at 12:47 PM

#3 - It's not as if Edinburgh Airport is connected to the rail network either. Yes there is Edinburgh Gateway, but it is nowhere near the airport and has very few trains stopping at it.

#6 Posted by Fat Bloke on Tour on 20 Aug 2025 at 15:31 PM

Dog's dinner of a project -- just what are they trying to achieve?

Random bridge / flat junctions all around / third route to the airport from Paisley town centre -- just what we need to get GLA back into the big time.

Nothing to bring Paisley harbour back to life.
Nothing to connect PGS to the airport.
Nothing to bring back the City Union line.

Very random / very wasteful / very useless.
Very Nat Scotland -- PR and ribbon cutting not economic development.

#7 Posted by Graeme McCormick on 21 Aug 2025 at 13:08 PM

I do wonder who benefits from this. Paisley needs some tlc. No doubt the money is tied up with conditions , but there are so many gap sites, dilapidated buildings, inappropriate fronts, half hearted public realm maintenance improvements that there is no street in the town without a big blemish. There is so much great architecture to enjoy but an apology always casts its shadow

#8 Posted by Georwell84 on 21 Aug 2025 at 13:31 PM

#5 I am informed Edinburgh Trams go directly to Edinburgh Airport, with the tram stop located next to the terminal building. I have no problem with Edinburgh Airport having a direct rail connection either. Just Glasgow has nothing and is in greater need.

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