The Courier & Advertiser (Fife Edition)
Warning to motorists ahead of city centre roads shutdown
Drivers asked to show patience over 12 days due to largescale events including Simple Minds gig
Motorists have been asked to show patience as roads around Dundee city centre shut down for 12 days because of large-scale events in Slessor Gardens.
Commuters and drivers have been warned to expect significant delays because of the Simple Minds concert on Sunday and the two-day 3D Festival celebrating the opening of the V&A the following weekend.
Riverside Esplanade, the main route west from the Tay Road Bridge, will be shut entirely for 36 hours between September 14 and 15 because of the V&A opening.
Some streets – Earl Grey Place West and East, South Crichton Street and South Castle Street – will be closed to traffic for 12 days starting from Thursday to allow the stage and barriers to be put up for the Simple Minds concert at Slessor Gardens.
The roads will remain closed while preparations for the 3D Festival get under way.
Dundee City Council leader John Alexander said he hopes drivers understand the need for the road closures.
He said: “The weekend represents an exceptional opportunity for the city to celebrate the opening of Scotland’s first museum of design, housed in an £80 million building designed by Japanese architect Kengo Kuma.
“I appreciate that this event will cause travel disruption but we hope people will understand what a momentous event this is for the city of Dundee and for Scotland and why it is necessary to take these measures.
“There is an international spotlight shining on Dundee as this magnificent museum opens. There has been a massive demand for tickets for the opening weekend and for the 3D Festival.”
Mr Alexander added: “With the numbers involved, the closures of both roads is a necessity to ensure the safety of people attending the opening and the 3D Festival.
“This is our chance to shine and this is our shop window to the world. Dundee is at the centre of unprecedented international attention.
“We want to maximise that going forward so that the entire city can benefit from the economic impact that flows from hundreds of thousands of visitors coming here.
“In the long term this two-day road closure will be worth it. I would like to thank people for their patience and hope that they enjoy this great weekend for Dundee.”
The opening weekend celebrations for V&A Dundee will involve the closure of both Thomson Avenue and Riverside Esplanade, to the north and south of Slessor Gardens.
Riverside Esplanade will be closed for its entire length from 10am on Friday September 14 to 10pm on Saturday
September 15.
Thomson Avenue will be closed from 2pm on Friday September 14 to 6am on Sunday September 16.
Dundee City Council has said it expects “significant delays” due to the closure of major eastbound and westbound routes through the city centre.
Traffic will be diverted around Marketgait during the 3D Festival. City centre bus stops will also be relocated for the duration of the event.
Thomson Avenue and Shore Terrace will also be closed on September 9 and 10 because of the Simple Minds concert.
Parts of Dock Street, Union Street and Whitehall Crescent will be closed on the day of the gig.