Argyll roads repair funding approved
Councillors have approved £1,215,000 to be spent repairing roads in the Oban and Lorn area.
Last week members of Argyll and Bute’s economic development and infrastructure committee were asked to approve capital expenditure sums for 2019/20.
Planned reconstruction work in Oban and Lorn includes £100,000 in the Dalintart, Mossfield and Glencruitten housing areas, £150,000 for road widening at Knipoch, £60,000 for Luing’s roads and £52,000 for Kerrera.
In addition, works are also proposed for Glen Nant, Glen Lonan, Kilchrenan, the Scammadale Road and Muasdale.
Members at Thursday’s meeting were also asked to give the nod to an estimated £643,000 needed for for Islay and Jura roads plus £15,000 for footways in Port Charlotte and Port Ellen.
Proposed work on Mull, as well as on Coll and Iona, was agreed.
Over the next two weeks, Argyll and Bute Council will be carrying out resurfacing work in Glenshellach Road, Longsdale Road and Hazeldean Crescent areas of Oban.
A spokesperson for Argyll and Bute said the capital expenditure for 2019/20 was in addition to the investment in day-to-day maintenance work such as patching and filling potholes.
Also last week, a frustrated reader sent in a photograph of George Street complaining about its state under the responsibility of BEAR Scotland which maintains north-west trunk roads.
A spokesperson for BEAR Scotland said: ‘A surfacing project is provisionally programmed to take place in autumn for George Street and the Esplanade. However, we’re continually reviewing our programme to identify opportunities to bring forward projects wherever possible.
‘In the meantime, our teams will continue to monitor routes and carry out weekly safety inspections of the trunk road network, carrying out repairs where required.’
In February last year, potholes on the A85 through Connel became so dangerous that police had to contact BEAR Scotland to carry out emergency repairs, a fortnight before scheduled works. After this year’s harsh winter, potholes have been reappearing in Argyll Square and on roads out of town.
An Argyll and Bute’s spokesperson said: ‘Complaints about road defects are dealt with and prioritised accordingly.’