A723 to close for safety improvements

Nov 5 2008

Safety improvements are to be made to the A723 between Hamilton and Strathaven.

The road, which has an accident rate 50% higher than the national average for A-class rural roads, has had two serious and 14 slight accidents over the past three years.

Maintenance and safety improvements costing around £850,000 will include:

Extensive resurfacing
Anti-skid surfacing at the tightest bends
Improved signing warning drivers they are approaching tight bends
Signing at bends improved with verge marker posts and chevron signs
Vehicle activated signs advising speeding drivers they are approaching a junction and should therefore slow down
Improved direction signs in advance of, and at, junctions
New centre and edge lines along the entire route

Unfortunately, in order to carry-out the work it will be necessary to close the road from 8-24 November.

The following diversions will be in place:

Traffic travelling along the Hamilton Road from Strathaven should U-turn at the roundabout at Golf View and travel along Hamilton Rd, right onto Commercial Rd, then left onto A723 to roundabout. Then left onto A71 to Canderside Toll, then left onto the B7078 to Larkhall, north onto A72 to Hamilton, then left onto A723 to the end of the diversion.

Traffic on north side of the closure should travel from Hamilton on the A723, then right onto the A72 to Cornsilloch roundabout, then right onto the A71 to Strathaven. Then turn right onto A723 to end of diversion.

Local access will be maintained throughout the course of the works. This will enable Avondale Services, Strathaven Hotel, Strathaven Rugby Club and the businesses within Hamilton Road Industrial Estate, Strathaven to open as usual during the closure. All other businesses in Strathaven will remain open as usual.

Councillor Chris Thompson, the chair of the council's Enterprise Resources Committee, said: "These improvements are part of the council's £2.1million Route Action Plan programme for 2008/09.

"This will see seven of the most dangerous roads in South Lanarkshire benefiting from a range of safety measures.

"While the improvements to the A723 will cause some difficulties for local residents it is hoped they will understand that the safety improvements will justify any temporary inconvenience.

"We would like to apologise in advance for any delays and ask the public to take note of the alternative routes which will be clearly signposted."