Driven to distraction
Strathaven road closures as part of £126m upgrade
Motorists travelling in and around Strathaven should brace themselves for almost a month of roadworks.
The improvement works are due to begin next week as part of South Lanarkshire Council’s £126 million roads investment programme.
Avondale and Stonehouse independent councillor Margaret Cooper told the News this week she is working with the council and public transport bosses in a bid to minimise disruption.
Resurfacing will be carried out on the A726 East Kilbride Road, B743 Muirkirk Road, the B7086 Lesmahagow Road and the town’s Overton Road.
For safety reasons, all of the works will require the roads to be closed.
To reduce the impact of the road closures, and associated diversions, the works on the A726 and Overton Road (school access) have been planned to take place during the October school break when traffic flows are significantly lighter.
The timetable for the works is as follows:
Monday, October 8 to Friday, October 12 – B743 Muirkirk Road from High Dykes to Redding Road.
Saturday, October 13 to Friday, October 19 – A726 East Kilbride Road/Strathaven Road between Hapton Craggs crossroads and Strathaven Golf club.
Monday, October 15 to Friday, October 19 – Overton Road.
Sunday, October 21 to Monday, October 29 – B7086 Lesmahagow Road between the outskirts of Strathaven and Craig Bridge.
Councillor Cooper said: “I am working with Alex Scott of Strathclyde Passenger Transport, Gordon Mackay, head of roads at South Lanarkshire Council and Sandra Whitelaw of Whitelaws Coaches to find a solution to the closure that will maintain a service for residents of Strathaven and the rural area.
“The council is sympathetic to the problem given that there has already been considerable road closures in Strathaven over the past few months due to the a major upgrade of the electric sub-station in the town.
“I have emphasised the disruption this will cause to residents and the potential loss of revenue to Whitelaws. I am very reassured by the council’s efforts to find a solution.”
East Kilbride Central South councillor John Anderson, chair of the council’s community and enterprise resources committee, said: “These works are essential to improve the road surfaces on a longer term basis and, unfortunately, can’t be carried out without some inconvenience to road users.
“We would ask that anyone travelling in any of the areas during the times mentioned pays particular attention to the diversion routes which will be clearly signposted.
“Every effort will be made to complete these improvements as early as possible to allow the roads to be reopened to traffic.”