Motherwell's Sheilds Road to begin more roadworks

Feb 11 2010 by John Rowbotham, Hamilton Advertiser

MOTORISTS using one of Motherwell’s busiest roads are again facing more than SIX WEEKS of roadworks misery.

Part of Shields Road closed on Monday, along with Shields Drive and Burnside Street, to allow for work by Scottish Water on a £1.1m project on their network.

But it is only 12 months since Shields Road was closed for a number of weeks for the installation of traffic lights and improvements to the road.

That closure led to acute frustration among motorists and lengthy traffic queues.

Scottish Water say the work will improve the waste water system and improve water quality in the Whinny Burn.

The work at Shields Drive will see the installation of a new storm water outfall pipe with a powered screen which will also provide storage for additional flows in heavy weather, limiting spills to the burn.

Wishaw and Motherwell MP Frank Roy strongly criticised last year’s closure and he’s surprised the road is closing again so soon, saying: “I just ask why Shields Road is getting it again. I live nearby and twice last year we had chaos when it was closed. We had a meeting last year where it was decided we’d speak to each other and decide when works would be best carried out but that’s not happening.

“It doesn’t really make sense to carry it out now when we’ve got six weeks to the school holidays, when the traffic is a lot quieter.”

Scottish Water’s Project Manager Peter Faulks explained: “The waste water network in Motherwell is of a combined nature where sewage and surface water share the same network of pipes.

“In heavy rainfall, excess water is stored in large holding tanks to prevent flooding. In exceptionally heavy weather, they release excess water to local burns and rivers, where it is carried to the sea.”

Businesses are again affected and shop assistant Ali Dardouri, who works at a convenience store in Shields Road, remembers only too well the last closure.

He said: “The last time the road was shut we struggled with our takings. There were no passing customers and quite a bit of our trade comes from that.

“We complained to the council the last time about it and asked them if it wasn’t possible to keep one side of the road open but our complaints made no difference.”

This time the closures will be carried out in phases, with only one side of the road closed at any time.

A council spokesman said: “Only one side of the road will be closed at any one time. Shields Road will, therefore, remain open for the duration of the works, with traffic controlled via contraflow.”

Brian O’Neill, a resident in nearby Margaret Drive, is disappointed that there are more works so soon after last year’s closure.

He said: “The last time it shut, it was a nightmare and we had to travel right round.

“I have to go to hospital in Glasgow regularly with my wee girl and it took so much longer. I think I was also late for work just about everyday.

“It would have made more sense to do all the work at once or during the holidays.”

The road is scheduled to fully reopen at midnight on Sunday, April 4.