Planned resurfacing to affect High Street between Storie Street and Lady Lane
Drivers, pedestrians and businesses in Paisley town centre are being warned to expect short-term disruption after Renfrewshire Council announced a programme of footway and carriageway resurfacing on High Street. The works, scheduled to start on 4 August, are planned to run until 31 August, subject to weather and operational needs.
Council officers have set out a phased approach designed to keep disruption to a minimum while ensuring the work is carried out safely. The initial phase will focus on the footway opposite the Thomas Coats Memorial Church before full carriageway resurfacing takes place between Lady Lane and Storie Street.
Timing and traffic arrangements
The authority has indicated that temporary traffic management — including temporary traffic lights and full road closures at certain times — will be necessary. Engineers will use night-time starts and weekend working where possible to reduce the impact on weekday traffic.
“To undertake these works safely, a full road closure will be required. However, the works will be phased to minimise disruption wherever possible.”
Key periods set out in the council briefing are:
- Footway works commencing 4 August, expected to take about two weeks, with temporary lights operating while they are underway.
- Carriageway excavation beginning at 6pm on Friday 21 August, followed by daytime works on Saturday and Sunday.
- A continuous road closure from 6pm on Friday 21 August until 6am on Monday 24 August.
- A second carriageway phase starting at 8am on Saturday 29 August and continuing until 6am on Monday 31 August; the closure will remain in place outside normal working hours to allow surfacing materials to cure.
What motorists and pedestrians should expect
During the interval between the two main carriageway phases, the council will provide a temporary running surface so access remains possible for vehicles. Ramps will be installed around ironwork and at the edges of the temporary surface to make it passable.
Road users are being urged to approach the area with caution and to obey temporary signage and traffic management. The council notes that the finish date — currently targeted as 6am on Monday 31 August — could change if the weather is poor or other operational issues arise.
Impact for businesses and local services
High Street forms a central spine of Paisley town centre activity, with retail, hospitality and civic functions nearby. While the council has phased the work to lessen disruption, some shopfronts and premises on or near the works will face altered access arrangements during the scheduled closures.
Local traders who rely on weekend footfall should note the planned weekend closures for the carriageway resurfacing. Pedestrian access for shoppers will remain a priority where it can be safely maintained, particularly during the footway phase opposite the Thomas Coats Memorial Church.
| Phase | Dates | Work | Traffic arrangement |
|---|---|---|---|
| Phase 1 | From 4 Aug, ~2 weeks | Footway resurfacing (opposite Thomas Coats Memorial Church) | Temporary traffic lights |
| Phase 2 | 6pm 21 Aug – 6am 24 Aug | Carriageway excavation and resurfacing (start) | Full road closure |
| Phase 3 | 8am 29 Aug – 6am 31 Aug | Final surfacing and curing | Road closure remains in place outside working hours |
Residents and businesses seeking more detail on access or deliveries during the works should consult Renfrewshire Council's updates or contact the local roads team. The council has said it will endeavour to phase the work to keep disruption minimal and will monitor weather and site conditions as the project progresses.
For a town centre still adapting to changing retail patterns and seeking to sustain evening and weekend trade, the resurfacing is intended to provide a long-term benefit by improving the condition and safety of both footways and the carriageway. But in the short term the programme will require patience from drivers, pedestrians and traders as Paisley sees essential maintenance carried out on one of its main streets.
