Controversial roadworks in Angus have had an adverse economic impact, despite looking set to finish a week early, it has been claimed.
The works at Dundee Road in Arbroath have caused long tailbacks for rush-hour commuters since they began last month and businesses on the closed-off stretch leading into the town have had to cope without their usual passing trade.
Angus Council says the final touches will be put to the new surface this week, with the contractors hoping to wrap the job up before the weekend around a week before the estimated finishing date of March 30.
Arbroath councillor Donald Morrison welcomed the early end to works but said it couldn’t come soon enough for businesses located off the main arterial route.
He added: ”While it is important roads around Angus are maintained to a high standard, there is little doubt the closure of Dundee Road and the diversions through other areas of the town will have had an economic effect on the local businesses along Ladyloan and Burnside Drive with the decrease of passing trade.
”Hopefully with the reopening of Dundee Road and the traffic flows at this end of the town, businesses will see a return to normal trading quickly.”
Vice-convener of infrastructure services Councillor David Fairweather praised the contractors for finishing early, claiming the new road would provide a ”superb gateway” to the town.
”I am delighted to hear they are going to finish ahead of schedule and this will be the second major project in Arbroath that has been finished early,” Mr Fairweather said.
”At the end of the day, sometimes you are damned if you do and damned if you don’t. We hear people complaining about the road infrastructure, but we have spent record levels of money on it.
”Dundee Road is the main artery into the town and I’m sure all the inconvenience that has been caused to businesses will be worth it in the end, when people are coming into the town on a new road.”
For the duration of the works drivers making their way into the town from Dundee have been forced to divert off the A92 and round the Westway.
The route takes in Keptie Road, Cairnie Road, Cairnie Street, Guthrie Port, Burnside Drive and Ladyloan.
Morning commuters have been delayed for up to 20 minutes as cars travelling north back up around the detour.
Many drivers have turned to using rat-runs to avoid the diversion, with convoys turning off the A92 before entering the town through Arbirlot.
A spokeswoman for the council said: ”There is still some lining, anti-skid surfacing and other works to do, but the contractor is hoping to open the road towards the end of the week.”