
Major A-road bridge used by thousands of drivers a day to CLOSE this weekend
A MAJOR A-road bridge used by thousands of drivers everyday is to close this weekend.
The Erskine Bridge, which spans the River Clyde in west-central Scotland, will be closed overnight while essential roadworks are carried out.
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The major closure will be on the northbound carriageway before the A898 Erskine Bridge exit.
The closure will commence from 8pm on Saturday, May 17, until 6am on Sunday, with a diversion signed.
On behalf of Transport Scotland, engineering company Amey is carrying out the closure for resurfacing work.
Traffic will be diverted via the M898 northbound off-slip to the B815, A726, M898 southbound on-slip, M8 eastbound, M8 Kingston Bridge, M8 eastbound junction 17 off-slip, to Great Western Road, A82 - where the diversion will finish.
Meanwhile non-motorway traffic is to be diverted via the A726 to the A8 Greenock Road, Inchinnan Road, Glebe Street, Glasgow Road, Renfrew Road, Shieldhall Road, Clyde Tunnel, Crow Road, and Great Western Road.
Motorists must also be aware of the closure of the Erskine Bridge southbound on-slip from the westbound Great Western Road.
Traffic will be diverted via Dunglass Roundabout, Great Western Road eastbound, and the Erskine Bridge off-slip.
And those who are travelling north on the M8 looking to use the northbound A898 Erskine Bridge are urged to follow an alternative route due to the works being done.
However emergency vehicles will still be granted access to the bridge during the closure.
Drivers must also be aware that the works are dependent on the weather, and therefore may be rescheduled if needed.
Elsewhere, a major A-road used by 170,000 drivers a day has also shut down for works set to last nearly two weeks.
The A38 in Cornwall is currently closed overnight, with National Highways confirming the closure is to "improve safety" along the busy stretch.
National Highways is carrying out work between St Neot at Carnglaze Caverns junction and Dobwalls at the Twelvewoods roundabout.
The highways agency has said it aims to improve safety and reduce the need for unplanned closures in the future.
The A38 will be closed in both directions from Twelvewoods to Turfdown Roundabout every weeknight from 8.30pm to 6am.
The closure began on Tuesday, May 6, and will run through to Friday, May 16.
Maintenance works will also cause the closure of a major motorway for an entire weekend at the end of this month.
Closures will take place between the Rownhams Interchange and Junction 1 of the M271 between May 30 and June 2.
A419 closures - May 12-16
Monday May 12-Tuesday May 13
Roadworks started at 8pm on May 12 when the northbound carriageway was shut until 6am on Tuesday between the Commonhead junction and the A420.
On Tuesday May 13, the northbound carriageway will shut from 8pm until 6am the following morning between the Commonhead junction and the A420.
Wednesday May 14-Friday May 1 6
The southbound and northbound carriageways between the Commonhead Roundabout and junction 15 of the M4 will be closed from 8pm to 6am.
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Mr Greer's suggestion, then, that the Lomond Banks case represents an 'anti-democratic outrage' strikes some as a bit rich. Graham Lang, the chairman of Scotland Against Spin, says: 'We have no sympathy for him or his party who have chosen to ignore that the same scenario has been played out on an almost weekly basis for the past two decades in rural communities throughout Scotland. 'Mr Greer must be aware of this but has never complained when his beloved green energy developments are granted planning permission against the wishes of the majority of local residents.' For his part, the Green MSP argues these installations are about 'keeping the lights on across the country'. 'However, no one could argue that Flamingo Land is of national importance to Scotland.' The lone planning official's ruling was certainly welcomed in some quarters. Lomond Banks development director Jim Paterson said the company was 'delighted' by the decision, adding: 'As we look beyond today's decision, we remain committed to being a strong and valued contributor to the local economy and we look forward to progressing with our proposals as we now consider detailed planning.' Meanwhile Friends of Loch Lomond and the Trossachs, a group which has long campaigned in favour of the resort, said the reporter had 'resoundingly demolished' the arguments for opposing it. Responding to the allegations put to it by the Mail, including the claim that Flamingo Land was 'courted', leaving the Scottish Government conflicted, a spokesman said: 'These claims are untrue. The independent reporter is an experienced planning professional who provides an objective planning judgement.' Will the Scottish Parliament and the 155,000 who campaigned against Flamingo Land accept that answer? Or will they drag democratically accountable Ministers, kicking and screaming, into the spotlight? The last chapter in a story the SNP government are anxious to close the book on may not yet be written.