A small turn-off at an expensive new Dundee junction is a huge turn-off for the city’s motorists.
The north filter lane at Greendykes Road for city-bound traffic on Broughty Ferry Road has seldom been used since it was opened as part of a £2 million programme of harbour access improvements.
Broughty Ferry councillor Laurie Bidwell is asking if upgrading the A930/A92 junction was a necessary investment, given that it was rejected by hauliers transporting the most recent large consignment of turbine parts from the port.
“Drivers heading from the Ferry to the city centre must wonder for whom the new right turn on Broughty Ferry Road was introduced,” he said.
“It seems it’s a junction where few drivers travelling west choose to use the right turn at these lights.
“It wouldn’t be such an issue if the bill for the junction’s upgrading had not been so substantial.
“The upgrading was part of a £2 million contract to upgrade the bridge into the docks at the Stannergate and improve links to the Kingsway for new green energy manufacturing.
“This was approved, with rather scant detail, at the city development committee in June 2011.
“When wind turbines were recently landed at Dundee Port and transportation arranged to Aberdeenshire, new direct lanes were engineered straight through the middle of the Stannergate roundabout for the articulated trucks to go directly up Strips of Craigie Road.
“So much for the new enhanced junction on Broughty Ferry Road its dog-leg corner would clearly defeat lesser loads negotiating the corner.”
Bill Campbell, depute convener of city development, said: “This work formed part of the Dundee Port Access Improvements, which were agreed unanimously by elected members including Councillor Bidwell.
“It was specifically to improve HGV access to Dundee Port which has been done successfully.”
Councillors were told in 2011 that the harbour access investment would improve the flexibility of the road network around the port to cope with loads of all shapes and sizes needed for the renewables industry.
Laying the roadway across Stannergate circle was seen as the best solution for transporting the giant Siemens turbine parts to Aberdeenshire.
They were so long and wide that their lorries wouldn’t have been able to negotiate the sharp right turn at Greendykes.
Siemens paid for the road across the roundabout and other modifications on the route.
That was only one project, however, and planners think other loads may take different routes and use the right turn filter lane up Greendykes Road.
Councillors were told in 2011 there was merit in improving the harbour area road network to ensure the city is ready for the renewables industry.
Not doing so may deter investors, it was claimed.