M73 commuters hit by rush hour delays

Nov 19 2009

ROAD maintenance company Amey this week blamed “unforeseen circumstances” for lane closure on the south-bound M73 last week.

The roadworks lasted a week and caused lengthy tailbacks during rush hour.

Drivers who had ‘crawled’ through the long-running roadworks on the A80, between Mollinsburn and Haggs, were dismayed when they hit further delays of up to half-an-hour on the M73.

A spokesman for Amey said they had been supervising the installation of CCTV cameras on the M73, close to Gartcosh Business park at junction 2a.

“It had been planned that this would be carried out under a hard shoulder closure,” she added.

“However, due to unforeseen circumstances a nearside lane closure was implemented to ensure that safety standards were maintained.”

The £320m project to upgrade to motorway standard the 13-mile stretch of the A80 began in the Spring and is expected to take more than two years.

A 40mph speed limit, enforced by 14 average speed cameras, nicknamed ‘yellow vultures’, has been introduced on the stretch.

Transport Scotland, who are carrying out the work on the A80, claim that the cameras improve safety for drivers and those working on the road.

However, the work leads to lengthy delays for people commuting between Lanarkshire and Cumbernauld, Stirling and Falkirk.

A number of motorists contacted the Advertiser last week to complain about the work on the south-bound M73, the two-lane motorway which starts from its junction with the A80 at Mollinsburn.

One commuter, who is 55 and lives in Falkirk but works with South Lanarkshire Council in Hamilton, said: “I realise the work on the A80 has to be done but this is a major project that leads to significant delays almost every morning.

“To come through those works, as I did on Monday, then find myself delayed a further half-hour by the work on the M73 at Gartcosh was ridiculous.

“More consideration should have been shown to drivers who already face a horrendous commute.”

Stuart McCusker (32), who lives in Stirling and works in Hamilton, said the M73 work was “rubbing salt into the wounds of people who are getting held up on the A80 every day”.

“It took me up to an hour and 20 minutes to get to work some days last week.

“This work was on the hard shoulder. If there was a need to close one lane it should have been done outwith the rush hour.”