10 OUT OF ACTION Bridge closed after stonework collapse
Blow for drivers who use back road to Hamilton
Drivers in East Kilbride face weeks of disruption after large chunks of a busy bridge collapsed.
Piles of masonry have fallen away from the Newhousemill Bridge and it was closed on Monday evening for investigations to be carried out.
South Lanarkshire Council say the bridge will now be closed for several weeks.
It is understood the damage was spotted several days before the bridge was closed and local residents have been complaining for some time that the narrow bridge is unable to cope with the volume of traffic using the back road between East Kilbride and Hamilton.
One concerned driver told the News: “There is a very narrow single file bridge on the back road between Hamilton and East Kilbride.
“The volume of traffic is obviously far greater than ever intended for such a wee bridge, and the picture of the damage clearly shows it is near to collapse.”
Conservation group Calderglen and Calderwood Castle History posted on their Facebook page: “Let’s hope that this well-used transport link and historic listed building in our country park gets remedial works asap.”
Gordon Mackay, head of roads and transportation at South Lanarkshire Council, said: “We became aware yesterday of damage to one of the wingwalls at Newhousemill Bridge on the approach from East Kilbride.
“The bridge has been closed while we conduct investigations into the extent of both the damage and the consequent repair work.
“At this point it is not known exactly how long the bridge will be closed, but early indications are that it will be for several weeks.
“We apologise for any inconvenience that may be caused for drivers during the course of this work, but the repairs will ensure that the bridge remains safe and operational into the future and we will endeavour to minimise the time of closure as much as possible.”