STEPHEN HOUSTON

Workers are gearing up to move a repaired bridge - nearly six months after it toppled over.

The timetable for bridging the Black Cart Water at Renfrew was thrown into chaos by the blunder.

The 160-ton pedestrian and cycle bridge is a key part of the Glasgow Airport Investment Area.

All five sections of the 100-metre structure have now been bolted back together at the same spot it tumbled.

Engineers had removed them for repairs after it appeared some of the steel may have buckled.

It plunged on November 23 as transporters were moving it into place at night.

The force thrust a pair of 24- wheel transport bogies into the air and crushed a Volkswagen Caddy van.

Now a new attempt to move it into position over the river will be made as final plans are worked on to try and avoid a repeat of the incident.

A Renfrewshire Council spokesman said: “The Glasgow Airport Investment Area site contractor is finalising its plans to install the new pedestrian and cycle bridge over the Black Cart, and we expect to publish details in the coming weeks of road closures to facilitate this.

“The new bridge will enhance cycling and walking connections between Inchinnan, Renfrew and Paisley and forms part of a series of infrastructure improvements being delivered through the project, with construction to be completed later this year.”

The project should have been all over by this month.

Motherwell civil engineer Wills Bros has now patched up the structure.

Much of the bridge is the original steelwork, with some components replaced.

An official Health and Safety Executive probe did not turn into a full inquiry, which could have ended in a criminal court case.