Raging motorists are fuming at “bad planning” from East Ayrshire road chiefs.
Two main arteries into Kilmarnock town centre are undergoing roadworks, with temporary traffic lights in place.
Both the Queen’s Drive and Low Glencairn Street have been subject to major gridlock due to the works, the two main routes into the centre from the bottom of the town.
The works on Victoria Bridge are due to finish on June 10, despite originally being scheduled to be completed on April 29.
And the Low Glencairn Street underground cabling work, where it meets Holmquarry Road, is due to last six weeks — but East Ayrshire Council chiefs insists the schedule will need to be pushed forward due to full closure of Welbeck Street in June.
Drivers reckon it’s the “worst planning” they have ever seen in the town.
One motorist said: “Roadworks are needing done, I accept that, but two main roads from the bottom of the town at the same time is a joke.
“Plus the Queen's Drive works are running over time and the Low Glencairn Street started two weeks after it was supposed to, so it just proves to me the roads department are very bad at planning.
“Also everybody’s complaining about the town centre and shops shutting, well this doesn’t help the town centre either people in the bottom of the town are having trouble getting into the town be it by car or bus.”
Another motorist added: “Why do this to the two main routes through Kilmarnock? Surely this was not thought out.”
And another commented: “In 30 years of driving around this town it’s the absolute worst bit of planning I have ever seen, the two main roads between the bottom and top of the town are gridlocked for hours.”
An East Ayrshire Council spokesperson said: “The Ayrshire Roads Alliance ensured that the essential works to Victoria Bridge/Queen’s Drive and Low Glencairn Street, were programmed with the conditions that the temporary lights on both sites are manually controlled between 7am and 7pm to reduce congestion.
“The works being carried out at Low Glencairn Street by SP Energy Networks are also instructed to complete prior to the final resurfacing works starting on Welbeck Street on Sunday, June 5.
“When Welbeck Street is closed for resurfacing Low Glencairn Street will be the diversion route.”
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