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.
The construction of the canal commenced on 23 August 1787, with a projected completion date of one year. Further development took place in 1835 to improve harbour facilities at Paisley through the Forth and Cart Canal project. Plans were made in the 1880s to significantly expand the canal's dimensions to accommodate ocean-going vessels, but despite being declared finished on 25 May 1891, the first ship to attempt navigation of the river ran aground on its inaugural day, leading to the abandonment of the scheme.