A Stobswell retailer says he saw his fears come true when a car crash took place just yards from his workplace.
Brian Dunbar, manager of outdoor machinery specialists Lawntech on Dundonald Street, has long warned councillors and the local authority of an imminent accident.
His grim prediction became fact on Wednesday afternoon when a taxi driver, attempting to turn east along Dundonald Street from the junction at Court Street, hit the rear offside tyre of a passing delivery lorry.
Neither driver was seriously injured but the collision smashed the front of the silver Vauxhall Vectra, throwing glass and debris across the busy thoroughfare.
Although no one was injured, Mr Dunbar said the accident underlines Dundee City Council’s £52,000 programme of road improvements is putting lives at risk.
“It doesn’t fill me with joy that an accident has happened here,” said Mr Dunbar, who only last week submitted a complaint against the authority over the issue to the Scottish Public Services Ombudsman.
“In my complaint I pointed out the dangers at that very junction it has been an accident waiting to happen.”
It has only been around nine weeks since council contractors completed their controversial road project, paid for through the Scottish Government Smarter Choice Smarter Places Fund and the Dundee Partnership Fund. Included in the finished work are a series of pavement “build-outs” which has significantly narrowed both lanes, and the alteration of the roadside parking where vehicles sit at right angles to the footpath, making it more difficult to spot oncoming traffic.
Mr Dunbar said he fears lives will continue to be put at risk if the council chooses to ignore concerns.
“No one has ever said that the council should rip up the work which is done now. But there are ways it can be improved.”
Just moments after the accident took place Mr Dunbar sent an email to Mike Galloway, city development director at Dundee City Council.
“He asked me to email him if there was ever an accident here. I have done that now so will have to wait for his response.”
Meanwhile, a resident arriving at the scene of the accident said the council’s improvement works were neither needed nor wanted.
“It is a complete waste of money,” said the man, who asked not to be named. “The road is a lot narrower now and it makes it more difficult for vehicles to get past one another.
“If we get more snow this winter, like the last one, there are going to be a lot more accidents here.”