Additional funding has been made available to replace a bridge in Clydesdale after delays in the development.
South Lanarkshire Council have secured funding for Clyde Bridge, on Pettinain Road near the Carstairs Junction, which was closed in 2018 due to it being deemed as unstable.
The progress of the bridge redevelopment was questioned by councillor Alex Allison for Clydesdale East who brought the issue to the Executive Committee meeting on February 2.
He said: “After four years of splitting another community with the closure of the Clyde Bridge, which has resulted in significant financial cost to the commutes of local residents, we as the council should be ensuring the funding saved from the new Ponfeigh Bridge through the Government grants, now goes to the new Clyde Bridge with a commitment the bridge be completed and open within the next financial year.”
The council committed to completing work on the bridge, despite unavoidable delays and increasing costs.
Last month, council leader John Ross pledged a way would be found to deal with the bridge issues.
He said: “I am delighted to confirm that we are now much closer to the start of work to replace this crossing, and if everything falls into place with the rest of the project then I would hope work could start this spring and may be completed about a year later.
“I know this will come as a major relief for local residents, but once completed it will also reopen an important route used by many people.
“Last month I made it clear that this council would not break its promise, and everyone can now see that this is true. Yes, there have been delays, but no-one has been more frustrated by these delays than me and members of the council administration.
“The rising costs were a significant hurdle – one that we had no control over and which are being faced by every construction project in the country. So, it has taken a lot of work, and I am grateful to council officers who have gone the extra mile to get us to this position.”
Delays to the bridge reconstruction were due to timely negotiations to purchase the land necessary for the project; this has now been completed.
The council managed to fund the project due to reallocating £1.6m that had been previously set aside to replace Ponfeigh Bridge, which is also in Clydesdale, which received different funding.
With the extra funding secured, it is now possible for the council to progress to the next stage of the tender award process which is an issue of letter of acceptance.
The council now awaits the contractor’s agreement and details of the next stages of the project will be available in the coming weeks.
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