Drivers have been urged to avoid Dundee city centre when major roadworks take place next month.
Long-awaited resurfacing works will be carried out on a series of key routes.
The two week programme will see the surface torn up so the concrete slabs underneath the road can be repaired.
Once that phase of the work is complete, the surface will be relaid.
Crichton Street, Whitehall Street, Dock Street west of Commercial Street, Whitehall Crescent east of Whitehall Street and Commercial Street south of Seagate will all be closed while the work is carried out.
City council engineer Ronnie Mackenzie said the resurfacing work is long overdue as the roads carry a high volume of traffic including a large number of buses and heavy good vehicles.
Commercial Street is being resurfaced at the same time as the other roads because they all form part of the main bus route into and around the city centre.
Mr Mackenzie said: “It made sense to put them together and do all the work in one go.
“The job is straightforward resurfacing work but the complexity is it is in the city centre and the route all the buses use.”
Mr Mackenzie said it had been “decades” since the roads were last resurfaced but the new surface, which will use modern, more hard-wearing materials than are currently on the road, should last for at least 15 to 20 years.
Traffic will still be able to reach all the main car parks in the city centre but Mr Mackenzie urged drivers to avoid the areas around the closed roads.
“I would avoid the area,” he said.
“Drivers will still be able to get into Gellatly Street and the other car parks but motorists should try to minimise driving in the city centre.”
Pedestrian access will be maintained throughout the fortnight but six-foot fences will be erected to protect them from machinery.
Special arrangements have also been made to allow businesses in Crichton and Whitehall Streets to continue to receive deliveries,
“All the business have been very good — they realise the work needs to be done,” said Mr Mackenzie.
“The city centre will still be open for business.”
Diversions will be in place throughout the two-weeks and Mr Mackenzie said the work will be completed on time and it would take freak weather conditions to blow the schedule off course.
“It is a tight two weeks but we are confident it will be done,” he said.
“The long-term forecast says there won’t be any winter weather, although it is dangerous to say that.”
Bus routes to be affected
Bus company Xplore Dundee has said every bus in its network will be affected by the closure of roads in Dundee city centre.
Whitehall Street, High Street, Crichton Street and Shore Terrace will be closed for resurfacing for two weeks from Monday April 10.
Diversions will be in place and although services will continue to run, some stops will be moved temporarily during the roadworks.
For example, services that stopped on Shore Terrace of High Street will now stop on the Nethergate outside Mecca Bingo instead.
Xplore Dundee managing director Elsie Turbyne said: “We are working closely with the council to try and make sure we keep Dundee city centre moving throughout these roadworks.
“Unfortunately due to the nature of the works, it’s likely that disruption could affect all of our services, even those which haven’t been diverted, as there could be delays in town which will impact on the rest of the network.
“We’re asking customers to please bear with us during these road closures and to consider leaving extra time for their journeys whenever possible.”
Xplore Dundee is contacting a number of local community groups, sheltered housing complexes, the college, university and libraries to ensure as many customers as possible are prepared for the diversions.
Inspectors will also be present in the city centre throughout the period of roadworks to advise customers and monitor services.
A full summary of the changes to services are available on the Xplore Dundee website and social media feeds, as well as at the Travel Centre in Commercial Street.
Passengers are advised to keep a close eye on the company’s Twitter and Facebook pages for updates to services, or to call the Travel Centre for up-to-date travel information.
A spokeswoman for Stagecoach East Scotland said: “This closure will affect Stagecoach services 16/A/B, 39, 42/B, 53, 57, 59, 73/73A/73B, 75, 77/B, 99/A/B/C/D, 204, X53 and X54.
“Routes 20, 21 and X7 are unaffected and will follow normal route.
“During this time, the above routes will divert from normal route and serve alternative stops. Full information on these diversions can be found on buses and on our website.”
