A80/M80-Upgrade-Cumbernauld

2009-08-21T22:22:00.002+01:00

Its been a while since I wrote anything here and a lot has happened since then. Works have quickend apace and the local populace has been inconvenienced accordingly with trafgfic lights operating at various locations most notably Condorrat and Mollins.

2009-02-22T21:16:00.002Z

The incompetence begins ?

Driving from Westfield to the A80 I was forced to turn back all the way due to the road between thr roundabout between Mollins Road and Gartferry Road being closed (red part on map). Nothing wrong with an essential road closure for essential works to be carried out - but rather annoying that no work related activity was going on at all, the road was deserted and no contractors were to be seen.

Compounding the road block was that there were no signs advising the closure at any point on Westfield Road (and presumably the road from Hunt Hill too) and so traffic from Craiglinn would have made a utterly pointless journey too.
Lets hope this is not an indication of whats to come for the people resident on the western side of Cumbernauld. Hope being the operative word.

Correspondance

2009-02-18T15:55:00.003Z

Abridged from today's Cumbernauld News (not the online version)

A letter from Alan O'Brien, SNP councillor Cumbernauld North reminding local Labour councillors who, he alleged were trying to pin the blame of the motorway on the SNP government - that it was they who voted for the online upgrade of the road through the town "and inflicted this nightmare onto us."

Another letter from Sam Mitchell decried the removal of so many trees which have greatly reduced the effectiveness of the sound barrier.

Storm at A80 Meeting

2009-02-18T15:31:00.004Z

From the Cumnernauld News website today.

LINK

St. Maurice Park

2009-02-05T12:22:00.002Z

Contractors have started to fence off a substantial part of this park nearest to the slip road from Condorrat. It looks as if a compound will be established.

2009-02-01T21:12:00.002Z

The Sunday Mail reports that the sons of the gangster Lewis Rodden have secured the contract to provide security on the A80 online upgrade.

LINK

In my view it is quite typical of the government - and local councils when they also allow such companies to 'win' security contracts, there is much wringing of hands and shaking of heads - with the obligatory smarmy statements excusing them of the fact. However in the real world it might be no bad thing to just accept and admit that these people are in fact probably the best people to employ guarding construction site - as long as they are stronger than their gangland rivals and can guarantee the site won't be the victim of a mysterious fire.

No matter who is contracted to guard the A80/M80 siteworks - along the eleven miles - a determined photographic commando will get the through to take the pictures.

Watch this space.

2009-01-29T17:11:00.002Z

Link to government info.

M80 Stepps to Haggs

In The Beginning

2009-01-28T15:16:00.003Z

WELCOME to the A80/M80 Upgrade blog

This blog is an attempt to record construction work from start to completion of this project as seen through the eyes of locals and commuters passing through on the road as work progresses.

Opinions and images of the work in progress is welcomed.

The landscape work started around the Condorrat, Westfield Mollinsburn stretch of the A80 in October and November 2008.

Quickly after tree felling took place alnog the verges of the road where it looks like being widened an half page article appeared in the Cumbernauld News asking why so many mature trees - quoting their age as being 50 years old - had to be cleared, residents complained as if they never thought anything like this would happen. You have to ask what they thought would happen when work started. As the title of this post says; 'In the Beginning'.

Here is a recent link from the Scottish government about the project starting up.

Work to start on M80 upgrade