Roadworks spark delay chaos for commuters
SCHEDULED roadworks caused chaos in Glasgow’s South Side with commuters delayed for hours. Drivers travelling through the area of Braidcraft Road in Pollok waited hours in queues as the surrounding roads turned into gridlock yesterday morning.
Glasgow City Council had arranged for repairs to be carried out on the road which is packed with potholes.
The first set of works on Braidcraft Road eastbound between Lyoncross Road and Corkerhill Road was due to begin yesterday at 9.30am.
But the Glasgow Times understands that workers closed off the road earlier than scheduled which impacted on rush-hour traffic.
Those works will last until Saturday between 9.30am to 3.30pm each before workers move on to another section of the road.
They will then work southbound between Maidland Road and Barrhead Road from Saturday until March 4 during the same hours.
The move by contractors to begin the work early received a backlash from the local community.
Councillor David McDonald said it should not have happened.
He said: “Having spent time stuck in the traffic delays I know the frustration it caused. This should not have happened.
“The roadworks should not have started until 9.30am. This plan was in place to avoid the chaos we’ve seen today.
“I’m speaking to the Roads department now to ensure this doesn’t happen again.”
One motorist, who contacted us, said: “I was 30 minutes late to work, that would have been more, but using my local knowledge I managed to bypass most of the traffic jams.
“My grandson has missed nursery and my granddaughter has missed school, as the traffic house.
“My daughter attempted to get the kids to school but only moved three car lengths in 15 minutes.”
Another told us: “They need cancel the works it’s awful.
“It has been nose to tail on Linthaugh Road then Lyoncross Road then Levernside road and Brockburn road.
“I sat in the same position for 50 minutes and lucky if I moved five car lengths.”
On Facebook, Annie Reid said: “The signs have been up for two weeks warning drivers the dates the roads will be closed, plenty of warning, moan when roads are a mess with potholes then moan when there fixing them?”
Helen Lynch Mooney added: “It took my son two hours to get from Linthaugh Road to the motorway it’s too far to walk and is queued outside their to at Silverburn, and extremely for college.”
Lisa Sandhu said: “Forty minutes to get from Raeswood Road to Paisley Road West. Shambles doesn’t even cover it.”
Gillian Leslie added: “Someone has to be accountable for this. It’s a shambles. With the Hurlet being blocked too there is no way out of Crookston/Pollok!”
A Glasgow City Council spokesman said: “We have spoken to the contractor to remind them to stick to the scheduled times for work.
“It is intended that the road repairs take place out with peak traffic times to minimise any disruption and so we are sorry for this morning’s delays.
“These repairs will ultimately lead to a significant improvement to the road surface at this location and we thank drivers for their patience while this essential work is under way.” late