Action call on bridge strikes
Transport Minister urged to intervene
Fed- up residents have welcomed an investigation into raising one of the most struck bridges by HGVs in Scotland.
North Lanarkshire Council have agreed to undertake a feasibility study at removing high restrictions at the Bellside Bridge on the A73.
HGVs use the bridge through Cleland when there is a diversion on the motorway.
It has led to HGVs and lorries hitting the bridge as they are unaware of the height restriction there.
The community council have complained about the increase in HGVs entering and leaving the village’s industrial estate.
Some vehicles have been stuck under the bridge, leading to traffic chaos in the village.
Cleland Community Council have been campaigning for several years to raise the bridge or lower the road there
Louise Roarty, chairman of the community council, has written to Scottish transport minister, Humza Yousaf and Network Rail, who own the bridge, to make funds available to carry out the vital work.
In a letter to Mr Yousaf, Mrs Roarty said: “Cleland Community Council have over the last four years, been pushing for something to be done to elevate the HGV traffic coming through the village on a daily basis, due to the height restriction on the railway bridge which crosses the A73.
“As you will be very well aware, Network Rail’s stance on this bridge is that “it’s fit for purpose” from their point of view.
“A feasibility study is now under way, which is being conducted by North Lanarkshire Council, with the outcome of possibilities and costs hopefully being available over the coming months.
“As this bridge is on the Shotts Line Electrification project, it would make sense that improvements to this bridge, whether it is to raise the fabrication or lower the road be conducted during this period minimising anymore disruption.
“When the options become clear, I would plead to the Scottish Government that funding would be made available for the works.
“Please take into consideration that this is the most struck bridge in Scotland by HGVs.
“The residents of Cleland deserve to be safe.”
The community council also wrote in January’s letter to the transport minister over the issue that a replacement bus service to Cleland was axed by mistake.
The last replacement bus was leaving Glasgow to Cleland at 9.45pm instead of 11.03pm, meaning that many passengers had to get a train to either Wishaw or Motherwell and then fork out a £16 for a taxi ride home.
A council spokesman said: “The Bellside Railway Bridge on the A73, which is owned and maintained by Network Rail, is currently signed as a low bridge and has in place a signed high vehicle diversion route through Cleland.
“The bridge has been struck by high vehicles on numerous occasions over the years, which has led to disruption on both the local road and rail network.
“With a view to reducing the disruption that results from these bridge strikes.
“North Lanarkshire Council commissioned Aecom Ltd at the end of last year to undertake a feasibility study to look at options for removing the height restriction at the bridge.”
The study will look at options for raising the bridge deck, replacing the bridge and lowering the road local to the bridge.
The study is programmed to be completed by April.
The residents of Cleland deserve to be safe . . .