Two weeks of road work misery ahead

Mar 20 2008 By George Topp

MOTORISTS in Clydesdale are facing the prospect of two weeks of misery — as one of the area’s busiest routes is closed.

The Clyde Valley National Tourist Route, which links the M74 and Lanark, closes on Tuesday for at least two weeks.

South Lanarkshire Council have been forced to introduce the sudden closures after the busy road started to show signs of subsidence in two locations between Crossford and Rosebank.

News of the closure has been met with dismay by garden centre bosses in the Clyde Valley and businesses in Lanark.

However, they are glad that the council have timed the closure after the Easter weekend, rather than before. And they are keeping their fingers crossed the work does, in fact, take just the two weeks the council anticipate — any longer would disrupt the area’s busy school holidays period.

A spokesperson for South Lanarkshire Council explained: “There have been two localised landslips on the A72 Lanark road recently. The repairs to these areas will require deep excavations.

“Given the narrowness of the road, it will not be possible to keep the road open to traffic during this period. As a result, a section of the A72 will be closed for two weeks to allow this carriageway reconstruction works to be carried out.

“The road will be closed between Rosebank and Sandyholm from Tuesday, March 25, at 9.30am until Tuesday, April 8, at 6pm. Signing will be in place to inform the public of the alternative route and that local businesses will be open as usual.

“If this work was to be delayed there would be a significant risk of an even greater failure. This would result in an unplanned closure of longer duration, probably at a less appropriate time during the summer.”

Single-way traffic controlled by traffic signals may be in effect for a few days after the closure to allow completion of the works, according to the council.

“Some delays may be unavoidable but every effort will be made to keep them to a minimum,” added the council spokesman.

David Warnock, boss of one of Scotland's top garden centres at Sandyholm, admits the closure will have an impact on business, but accepts there is little he can do. “We just need to hope the council can complete the work within the two weeks, because the schools break up for the Easter holidays on April 5, and then we are into the really busy start of the gardening season,” he said, adding that extended closures through that period would have a serious effect on business in the Clyde Valley.

Colin Smith, owner of the Valley International Park complex in Crossford, is also hoping work will go according to plan.

“We all know that the Clyde Valley road can suffer from slippage and so understand the council's dilemma.

“We've just opened a children's soft play area and have invested heavily in a number of other park projects which are opening soon and cannot afford a lengthy closure of the road.”

Businesses in Lanark are concerned that they will suffer.

“Lanark has had to put up with road closure after road closure for several years and I don't think we have yet had a full year of uninterrupted trading since the town centre streetscape started. We already have town centre shops shutting up because of ridiculously high rates and unfair competition. If this closure goes on too long then other shops in the town, which are already struggling, will also close . If that happens then Lanark is finished,” said one local businessman.

Community council chairman Frank Gunning commented: “We cannot win in Lanark, we are always being hit with road closures which put people off travelling to the town. However, I accept this is vital work.”