Latest news with #Dundee-bound
The Courier
30-04-2025
- Automotive
- The Courier
Main road through Broughty Ferry closed one way as latest roadworks begin
The main road through Broughty Ferry has been closed in one direction as the latest phase of roadworks begins. Monifieth Road, between Abertay Street and St Vincent Street, is now closed westbound as the SGN project to upgrade the gas network continues. Traffic heading for Monifieth can continue along Monifieth Road as normal through the one-way system. Signed diversions are in place for Dundee-bound traffic via Abertay Street, Nursery Road and Forthill Road/Fort Street. According to signs put in place at the works, this phase is expected to last five weeks. The project to upgrade the gas network on the main road through Broughty Ferry started in September. Drives faced traffic chaos shortly after the works got under way. The Courier has everything you need to know about the Broughty Ferry roadworks.
The Courier
26-04-2025
- Automotive
- The Courier
Courier readers hit out over Swallow Roundabout chaos
Readers have hit out over chaos at the Swallow Roundabout in Dundee after complaints about the traffic lights and road markings. The Courier told on Thursday how Carse of Gowrie councillor Angus Forbes is writing to the Scottish Government to highlight people's concerns about delays and safety fears at the newly reshaped junction. It comes as drivers have faced long queues on the A90 Dundee-bound approach to the roundabout since the lights were activated in March, while road markings are also causing confusion. The changes were made in an attempt to accommodate extra traffic at the Dykes of Gray housing development. Dozens of people expressed their frustration over the changes in response to our story. On The Courier's website, user 'Shaz' said: 'Our journey time has nearly doubled at the roundabout. 'I understand why it's been done but it's not working as it should – not sure what needs done.' 'Bob' posted: 'Have you ever noticed how well the traffic flows around the train station (at Dundee Waterfront) on the odd occasion the traffic lights are not working, the same with filtering off the Tay (Road) Bridge? 'Switch the traffic lights off and watch how quickly the traffic will flow through the new layout. '(There will be) no manufactured build-up caused by an unnecessary light change at a set of lights where no car is waiting.' 'DundeeRocks' said: 'I think they would have been better leaving the roundabout as it was and putting in slip roads for merging traffic, especially from Riverside to Perth. 'The lanes are not wide enough, they are narrow and all over the place. 'Even during non-busy times you are stuck for a while, not sure why they didn't leave it alone, Myrekirk is a disaster as well.' The road markings, which were criticised by drivers as far back as December, are continuing to cause problems, according to some. 'One foot in the grave' said: 'Coming from Perth, the outside lane has an arrow showing straight on then changes after the lights to show right turn only. 'To continue north you would have to cross over in front of vehicles. 'When you are there car horns are going constantly. There must be so many near accidents.' On The Courier's Facebook page, John Waller said: 'Seems to be a hobby of all councils these days, they have put lights on a few roundabouts in Dunfermline lately too and it's a total pain. 'Roundabouts were designed to ensure smooth running of roads at junctions, now it just looks like a way to waste money.' Kenny Maclean wrote: 'It's absolutely rubbish now. 'I regularly use this roundabout and up until the improvements it ran very smoothly. 'Now it's tailbacks and very poor lane signage coming from Perth. 'I've seen quite a few having to ride round the roundabout because they were stuck in the wrong lane. 'It's definitely a step backwards.' On the Evening Telegraph's Facebook page, Alan Jackson branded the changes a 'disaster'. He said: 'Before the lights were installed, the signage was wrong. 'I thought, maybe when the lights were completed they would amend the signage – but they left it. 'The new road layout is incorrect. I am on it most days and constantly see drivers using the lanes incorrectly according to the new incompetent signage.' Scotty Gorrie posted: 'The only improvement it has made is the traffic from Liff getting an opportunity to get out now. 'However, the lights should be on green much longer on the main trunk road as it's causing major tailbacks. Total shambles.' And 'Bm Scotland' wrote: 'Why did they do this in (the) first place? The road has flowed perfectly for decades – no build-up, no accidents.' Springfield, the housing developer that oversaw the work at the roundabout, says the design was signed off by specialists and authorities including Transport Scotland, and that the lights were 'specifically requested' by Dundee City Council. Transport Scotland says it will respond to Mr Forbes in due course. Dundee City Council has not replied to a request for comment.
The Courier
24-04-2025
- Automotive
- The Courier
Hundreds complain about 'outrageous' Swallow Roundabout delays as councillor takes case to transport secretary
Hundreds of people have complained about 'outrageous' delays at the Swallow Roundabout in Dundee after traffic lights were installed. Developer Springfield made changes to the junction near Invergowrie as part of efforts to ease potential congestion caused by the construction of new homes at Dykes of Gray. However, drivers have faced long delays on the A90 Dundee-bound approach to the roundabout since they were switched on in early March. Some drivers claim their commute time has doubled since the lights were installed. One motorist travelling from Perth to Dundee on Wednesday told The Courier: 'Even by Swallow Roundabout standards, today's traffic is outrageous.' There were further queues as far as Longforgan on Thursday. Now, Carse of Gowrie councillor Angus Forbes says he is taking the issue to the transport secretary because he has been contacted by so many people about the lights. Mr Forbes has launched a questionnaire asking people for their experiences. The councillor has already received about 1,000 responses detailing people's complaints about the roundabout. The survey closes at 5pm on Friday and the details will be sent to transport secretary Fiona Hyslop. Mr Forbes told The Courier: 'I am so frustrated by the traffic caused by the roundabout and the volume of complaints that I don't feel I have any other option than to get the Scottish Government involved. 'My constituents are coming to me looking for a solution but I can't even give them an explanation, never mind a solution, and as a councillor, that's not a good place to be. 'My big fear was that there would be carnage while the construction took place but that was handled very well by Springfield. 'It never occurred to me that the issues would be so great after the lights were switched on.' Drivers shared their experiences in response to Mr Forbes' post. One said: 'The lights have caused more issues and delays than there ever (were before). 'The lanes aren't clear enough, too, and this causes more delays with people being in the wrong lanes on approach to the roundabout from Perth.' Another driver wrote: 'It's awful. Doubled my commute time.' One motorist posted the queues were an 'absolute joke'. Another said: '(It's) crazy sitting behind red lights with no traffic in front of you or coming round from the right and you can't go because lights are red. 'There are times I counted when 20-50 vehicles could get through if there were no lights.' Springfield insists it was asked to install the lights by Dundee City Council. A spokesperson for the developer said: 'As housebuilders building new homes in the area, Swallow Roundabout improvements were included as part of our planning consent. 'We commissioned third-party specialists to design improvements to meet Transport Scotland regulations. 'This was thoroughly reviewed and approved by the relevant authorities, including Transport Scotland, ahead of construction starting and changes to the approved design need to be requested by them. 'The inclusion of traffic lights at this busy junction was specifically requested by Dundee City Council to provide steady and safer movement from each road leading to the roundabout and to introduce safe pedestrian crossings.' The Courier has approached the council for comment. However, in 2014, then-director of city development Mike Galloway said the signalisation of the roundabout would 'provide additional capacity to accommodate the extra vehicles associated with the residential developments'. Transport Scotland says it will respond to Mr Forbes when it receives his letter to the transport secretary.
