Bridge needs replaced

A busy road bridge route in Coatbridge will be closed to heavy vehicles for at least two years – with a five-mile diversion being put in place for affected drivers and locals being warned of a“significant impact on bus services and businesses”.

The stretch of Sunnyside Road crossing over the railway line – known locally as the Red Bridge – will have a weight restriction in place from April 8, meaning only cars and vehicles weighing less than 7.5 tonnes will be able to use the route.

It is being put in place at the request of owner Network Rail due to the bridge’s “deteriorating condition”, with plans now being devised to construct a replacement which will take until at least 2026.

The closure of the B803 to heavy vehicles between the two mini-roundabouts above the railway means those exceeding the weight limit will not be able to use the route to travel from the Sunnyside and Dunbeth Road directions to or from Coltswood Road and Burnbank Street.

Drivers approaching from the direction of Greenhill will instead need to travel along Burnbank Street to Glenmavis, through Golfhill to Airdrie’s top cross, past Monklands Hospital and through Coatdyke to reach Coatbridge Main Street and Dunbeth Road at the opposite side of the closure.

The condition of the bridge was discovered during routine maintenance. Network Rail have since carried out“recent remedial repairs”to allow the road crossing to remain open with the weight restriction in place, and will carry out “enhanced monitoring”safety inspections every four weeks.

Network Rail say in a section of frequently-asked questions on their website:“the bridge is completely safe for traffic. The weight restriction will help to limit further deterioration of the bridge, while ensuring it can remain open to most vehicles.”

Local businesses are now receiving letters from the rail infrastructure operator to give official notification of the new weight limit and diversion – while emergency services have also been informed, along with Strathclyde Partnership for Transport and bus companies“to allow them to consider the impact on services in the area”.

The project FAQS add:“passengers will be informed of any changes to services before the restriction comes into effect on April 8”, and that school buses will be using the five-mile diversion but that“pupils will be collected and dropped off as normal”.