Work begins on Hamilton roundabout improvements

Jun 12 2008 by Alastair McNeill

WORK is to begin later this month on the revamp of a busy Hamilton roundabout.

Improvements to the Almada St roundabout, at its junction with Muir St and Bothwell Road, will begin on Monday, June 23.

During the course of the work, estimated in the region of £1.23m, the two-lane traffic flow will be maintained.

However, lane widths will be reduced.

It is expected to be completed by November.

Costs include all utility diversions, design, construction, contingencies and supervision.

Several years ago Almada Lodge, a building situated at the roundabout, was painstakingly and expertly moved stone by stone to a new location further down Muir Street to enable the project to take place.

Chair of South Lanarkshire Council’s enterprise resources committee, Councillor Chris Thompson, said this week: “The improvements to this roundabout will greatly improve traffic flow in Hamilton, particularly in the areas around the town centre.

“Unfortunately, the existing roundabout is already operating at capacity and delays are frequently experienced by road users at peak times.

“We are confident the widening of the roundabout will combat these problems.”

The council also had to use Compulsory Purchase Orders as there were over 200 parties with ownership rights in relation to the land required for the scheme. With the CPOs now complete, work can begin.

“This project is something that the council has been attempting to carry out for a number of years, but several factors have held us up, the prime example being the length of time it can sometimes take for CPOs to be granted,” Mr Thompson added.

“I am delighted that we are now at the stage where work can begin and people who live and work in Hamilton will soon be able to reap the benefits of a much more free-flowing roundabout.”

The roundabout work is the sixth and final phase of the Hamilton Town Centre Action Plan.

All costs for the project will be met from the approved Hamilton Ahead budget.

Previous phases of the Hamilton Town Centre Action Plan have been: the realignment of Blackswell Lane to High Patrick Street and change to a two-way system; Auchingramont Road traffic calming; the widening of Muir Street to a dual carriageway; Brandon Street realignment and junction changes and Cadzow Street and Townhead Street pedestrianisation and streetscape.