Airdrie road closure cause more traffic chaos

Jul 8 2009 by Ian Bunting, Airdrie & Coatbridge Advertiser

More misery for motorists after road is closed for drainage work

DRAINAGE problems have led to the closure of a busy road under the bridge at Airdrie train station.

Broomknoll Street has been closed for almost a fortnight and will not re-open until the middle of next week.

The location suffered heavily during last August’s floods, with locals having to be rescued from their cars by emergency services. The repairs are an attempt to stop this from happening again.

However, the work follows hot on the heels of the closure of the Towers Road Bridge in Airdrie for a massive 46 weeks to cause further headaches for Monklands’ motorists.

Robin Jack, North Lanarkshire Council’s Roads and Structures design manager, said: “The council are currently carrying out a road drainage improvement scheme to assist Scottish Water with flooding problems in the low lying area under the bridge at Broomknoll Street.

“The works will assist in allowing the road surface water to drain more effectively.

“We are working closely with Scottish Water to try and reduce future flooding in the area.

“The road closure works began on June 29 and are scheduled to last for approximately two weeks.”

A Scottish Water spokesperson added: “Scottish Water is working closely with North Lanarkshire Council on work to alleviate the risk of flooding near Airdrie Railway Station.

“We are currently taking the opportunity of the local authority’s road closure to carry out important investigation work ahead of a planned flood alleviation project.”

Southbound traffic is being diverted via the A89 (East), Gartlea Road (South), Hogg Street (West) and Cairnhill Road (North/South).

Northbound traffic is the reverse of the above and pedestrian access to and from the station to the town centre will be maintained throughout the works.