Cathkin Relief Road opens
After more than 50 years in the planning, the Cathkin Relief Road finally opened to the public on Friday afternoon. The most controversial development in Rutherglen for a generation, the road opening did little to ease the concerns of residents living al
After more than 50 years in the planning, Cathkin Relief Road finally opened on Friday afternoon. Burnside youngster Kelsey McGeever had the honour of cutting the red ribbon.
The most controversial development in Rutherglen for a generation, the road opening did little to ease the concerns of residents living along the route.
The controversial Cathkin Relief Road was finally opened to traffic last week.
Cars were able to make their way along the mile- long stretch of tarmac – which is expected to ease congestion in Rutherglen and the surrounding areas – on Friday afternoon , February 24, following a formal opening ceremony.
VIPs and pupils from Burnside, Cathkin, Spittal and St Mark’s primary schools completed their daily mile on the route before Burnside youngster Kelsey McGeever had the honour of cutting the red ribbon.
Jackie Burns, depute leader of South Lanarkshire Council, accompanied youngsters on their walk and said he hoped local residents, who originally opposed to the road, now had a change of heart.
Recognising their concerns about a loss of green space, he said: “I totally understand how many people who have lived within the community for many years have legitimate concerns about noise and inconvenience, and about structural differences.
“But we would hope over a period of time they would realise that the commercial, employment and community benefits will be there to see and we see this as an improvement t of the Cathkin community and d the Rutherglen and Cambuslangg community.”
The anticipated final cost of f the project is £18.6million and in n addition to the new carriageway, y, there is a two metre-wide footway ay on the south side and a three metreewide combined cycle and footway ay on the north side.
There are three crossing pointsnts along the new route, one of which ch is a controlled crossing. It is situateded around halfway along the new ew stretch of road. The Cathkin Relief Road is the first major transport project to be completed under the £1.13billion Glasgow City Region City Deal.
City Deal director Robert Pollok said it was important the road was delivered to the best possible standard.
“It looks a very well engineered road,” he said. “It’s good that it is so suitable for both vehicle use and pedestrians and those who want to use a bicycle.
“It really is a bit of road infrastructure that caters for a range of users and I think it will have quite an impact in reducing congestion on many of the residential roads.”
Rutherglen South ward councillors Robert Brown, Gerard Killen and Brian McKenna also attended the opening and were all impressed with what they saw.
Cllr Brown said: “I think it’s very impressive and I think people will be pleasantly surprised once they see it in use.
“I know its been a controversial road and a lot of people were against it but I think contractors have done a good job of it and the lay out. Now it remains to be seen how it is going to work out in practice in terms of its affect on the surrounding areas.”
Labour Cllr Brian McKenna said: “I am very pleased with it. I think it is soft on the eye and opens up the area
and frees up traffic from other areas. I love the amount of greenery and open space there is and, as a cyclist, I am very much looking forward to cycling down it.
Cllr Killen said: “It’s nice to see a bit of greenery kept. We won’t get the full picture until spring when all the grass and plants have grown.”
Stuart Dillett, managing director of Land Engineering, the contractor that built the road, thanked locals for their patience while the road was being built. He said: “During the entire process we have striven to be a good neighbour to those local residents who live around the site and we would like to take the opportunity to thank them most sincerely for their patience and understanding during this time.
“We are confident the new infrastructure will significantly enhance the local roads network and we are especially pleased we will continue to be involved with this great project through our on-going contract to ensure that all of the landscaping works on either side of the new road become fully established.”
The Cathkin Relief Road was granted planning permission in September 2015 and work began in February last year.
It was scheduled to open before Christmas but was hit by delays, before finally opening on Friday.
I think it is very impressive Robert Brown