Work started on 23 August 1787, and was expected to be completed within a year. With the anticipated building of the Forth and Cart Canal, further work was carried out in 1835 to improve the harbour facilities at Paisley. There were plans to make it much deeper and wider in the 1880s, so that ocean-going ships could reach Paisley, but although the work was declared complete on 25 May 1891, the first ship to attempt to use the river ran aground on the opening day, and the scheme was later abandoned.
Construction began on 23 August 1787, and was anticipated to be finished within a year. Additional work was carried out in 1835 to enhance the harbour facilities at Paisley with the construction of the Forth and Cart Canal. Plans were made in the 1880s to make it much deeper and wider so that ocean-going vessels could reach Paisley, but although the project was declared complete on 25 May 1891, the first ship to attempt to use the river ran aground on its opening day, and the scheme was later abandoned.