Airdrie & Coatbridge Advertiser
LIGHTS OUT
Shawhead flyover scene of yet another collision
Concerned motorists have branded Shawhead flyover a “death trap”, “disaster” and an “accident hot spot”, after vehicles collided with traffic signals on the busy Coatbridge road network for the second time in as many months.
Traffic was brought to a standstill for more than an hour last Wednesday, when two vehicles travelling southbound crashed, knocking over a set of lights.
Fortunately no-one was injured, but the incident came just weeks after two traffic signal control cabinets were “destroyed” following another collision on the east verge at North Road.
Replacement cabinets were only installed on December 12.
The latest collision adds to the controversy surrounding the flyover, with the Advertiser reporting last year how motorists claimed they had been involved in a string of bumps and near misses since roundabouts were removed as part of the M8/A8 improvement project, and replaced by new crossroads with traffic lights.
It has proved to be the final straw for many drivers who took to social media in the immediate aftermath of last week’s crash to air their frustrations.
Katrina Clark said: “Total death trap; hope everyone is OK. Are they going to wait till somebody is killed before they sort it?”
Angela Mullen added: “It’s a blind spot. Absolute disaster of traffic management.”
Allan O Hare posted: “I’ve seen cars being overtaken on both sides at the same time by vehicles and buses. The A725 is one of the blackest accident hot spots in Strathclyde.”
Gary Lowe added: “The layout is shocking; try turning left or right at the Shawhead lights at peak time. There must be some amount of accidents since the road opened.”
Coatbridge MSP Fulton MacGregor, who has campaigned for safer road travel on the flyover, said: “I am very sorry to hear of yet another collision at the Shawhead flyover.
“This junction has continued to cause major issues since the improvement works were completed.
“I’ve had various meetings with Transport Scotland and even raised this issue at Parliament.
“While there has been some welcome improvements made, it is clear that more needs to be done.
“Along with Coatbridge South councillors [ Tracy] Carragher and [Fergus] MacGregor, I fought for a conflict study to be undertaken and I am of the understanding that this has been carried out, with the results being analysed.
“There are plans to undertake an information campaign for road users but perhaps it’s time for Transport Scotland and other stakeholders to think outside the box to make radical improvements to the junction.”
When the Advertiser reported on the roundabouts being replaced by traffic lights last summer, local residents said some drivers now “avoid the area” altogether – particularly in order not to have to negotiate the difficult righthand turns into and out of Shawhead and Kirkshaws where they join the main A725 at Whifflet, requiring traffic to queue in the middle of the road.
Irene Gillies, Shawhead tenants’ and residents’ association chair, said: “We’ve been fighting this since day one – we don’t want there to be a fatal accident.
“Any time you’re in the middle of the road [ waiting to turn], it’s terrifying; people from Shawhead will go a longer way through Whifflet to get to the main road without having to cross that junction as everybody is terrified going out on that road.”
Responding to last week’s incident, a police spokesperson said: “We received a report of a two-vehicle crash southbound on the Shawhead flyover at around 4pm on Wednesday, January 15.
“The road was re-opened at around 5.30pm. No injuries were reported.”
A spokesperson for Transport Scotland added: “Our contractor, Scottish Roads Partnership (SRP), has confirmed that the junction has been designed in accordance with relevant standards and guidance and is operating as per the design.
“An independent review and study of the junction, commissioned by Transport Scotland, concluded that where traffic conflicts were observed, these were low in severity at all locations.
“SRP has confirmed that further interventions are not considered necessary or justified at this time.
“The safety of road users and operatives is a priority for Transport Scotland and we are working closely with SRP as it continues to monitor the junction to ensure it operates safely and efficiently.”