Road misery ahead due to works

Shotts residents and business owners are facing three months of upheaval as gasworks begin in the town centre.

Gas network managers SGN start the final phase of their £277,000 project to upgrade the gas network in the town on January 8.

However, with the majority of the project taking place in either Station Road or Main Street, businesses who suffered through the 11-month closure of Station Road Bridge due to the electrification of the Shotts railway line will suffer again.

A SGN spokesman said:“We understand that people can get frustrated by roadworks. However, the new plastic pipe has a minimum lifespan of 80 years.

“This means that when the work is complete, residents in Shotts will continue to enjoy the benefits of a safe and reliable gas supply for years to come.

“We always aim to minimise disruption and we will make every effort to ensure our works are completed as soon as possible.

“This essential work involves the replacement of old, metal gas mains with new plastic pipe to ensure a continued safe and reliable gas supply.

“To ensure everyone’s safety, the use of temporary traffic lights will be necessary at various stages.

“We’ve split the project into three phases to minimise disruption as much as possible.”

The first phase of the project will last for five weeks and will see temporary two-way traffic lights on Station Road.

On February 12 ,SGN engineers will then commence work at the junction of Station Road and Main Street with temporary three-way lights being in force.

The final phase of work will begin on Monday, March 5, in Main Street.

There will be temporary two-way traffic lights around the work area with SGN stating their work will progress eastward from Main Street’s junction with Station Road towards Torbothie Road.

Shotts councillor Tommy Cochrane, pictured, said:“It’s not an ideal time when businesses are recovering from having the bridge closed for 11 months.

“We’ve had two bridge closures in two years and now this is going to take three months.

“It’s a bit of a bodyblow for the business owners but on the other hand updating the gas network has to be done for health and safety reasons.

“There is never going to be an ideal time for these works to be carried out.”