The £50m Renfrew Bridge, which opened last year, has been shut for an indefinite period after suffering serious damage from Storm Boelo. The bridge, which straddles the River Clyde in Scotland, was launched as a new route for traffic between Renfrew and Yoker and Clydebank last May.
The bridge's electrical systems sustained major water damage over the weekend as Storm Boelo brought 84mph winds and a third of a month's rain to parts of Scotland. Renfrewshire Council said the damage affected electronic systems that control hydraulics on the Renfrew side of the bridge, forcing it to shut for access at 8pm on Wednesday.
Damage to Electrical Systems
Gerard Hannah, head of climate, public protection and roads at the council, said: "We're very sorry for the inconvenience this will cause all those who use the bridge." He added: "We have two operating rooms, one on each side of the river, which manage the opening and closing of the bridge.
"While one side suffered minimal impact from the high-water levels, the plant on the Renfrew side suffered significant damage to the electrical systems required to operate the bridge." Mr Hannah said "urgent work" is underway to identify the issues behind the damage and "get the bridge back into action as soon as possible".
Closure and Temporary Measures
The local authority said the route would remain shut to drivers, cyclists and pedestrians "for a number of months" while investigations and remedial works are carried out. Temporary measures have been put in place enabling an emergency opening, including for access to Queen Elizabeth University Hospital, but the council said such an approach is "not suitable for maintaining normal operations".
The disruptive weather in Scotland left thousands of homes without power over the weekend, and saw a 60-year-old man die after he was hit by a falling tree in Dumfries and Galloway on Sunday.
Storm Impact Across the UK
Storm Boelo came shortly after Storm Austen delivered heavy rain to many areas on Friday, creating the wettest week England has experienced in two years. An average of 55mm of rain fell across the country in the seven days to October 27, with as much as 76mm in the north west and 87mm in the south west.
River levels rose significantly in many areas right across the country, with the Dart at Austins Bridge near Buckfastleigh in Devon also described as "exceptionally high". The downpours, which caused widespread travel disruption, mean England has experienced 11% more rainfall than the long-term average for October, according to the Environment Agency, with river levels increasing at all but two of the sites the agency monitors.
