DRIVERS USING the A92 between Arbroath and Dundee will see further ‘concrete’ progress in the coming weeks and months as further stretches and junctions on the new dual carriageway are brought into operation.

Surface-laying work has been proceeding apace on the Muirdrum bypass and the new stretch of road between Ardownie and Ethiebeaton and these are set to be open to traffic around the middle of April.

The new roundabout under construction at the Arbroath end of the road at Elliot is also nearing completion and should also be ready for opening around the same time.

Construction of the Barry bypass bridge, the final major structure to be built as part of the £55 million project, is also well under way and the whole project is on schedule for opening in time for Christmas.

John Reid, of Angus Council’s roads department, who is closely involved in the project and is based at the Travebank co-ordination centre operated by main contractors Morgan=Est, said motorists should be on the look-out for further changes to the road layout and traffic management signs as work continues.

“There will be quite a few changes coming on stream in the next few weeks and months and, as always, we would ask drivers to pay close attention to the signs and to observe the speed restrictions which are there to protect them and the workforce.

“At the Dundee end of the new road, between Ethiebeaton and Claypotts, there will be a lot of changes taking place to allow us to bring new stretches of road into use.

“One of our priorities as the moment is the section between Muirdrum and the new Elliot roundabout as we have agreed to a request from Angus College in Arbroath to stage a charity fun-run on that stretch on April 24.

“Although I have, reluctantly, had to draw the line at actually taking part in the event myself, we have given the organisers our commitment that the road will be available to them.”

Mr Reid also sought to allay concerns in the Carnoustie area regarding the safety of the new bridge at Muirdrum.

He said, “During the torrential rain a week or so ago some of the rock infill at the bridge was subject to slippage, but it is not a major problem.

“We have put the material back in place and are working to resolve the situation and ensure it cannot happen again.

“There are no safety implications, otherwise we would have shut the bridge, and it is not something that is causing us undue concern.

“It is simply one of these little hitches that can crop up from time to time in a project of this scale and the problem area has been backfilled to stabilised the rock while we deal with the situation.”