Delays to roadworks in Dundee’s West End have been branded a “world record” as it is revealed they won’t be complete until August – four months behind schedule.
Temporary traffic lights are in place on Ancrum Road and Tullideph Road is closed westbound due to work being carried out for SSEN’s cable renewal scheme.
These restrictions began on March 4 and were initially meant to be in place for seven weeks. However, four months on they remain in place.
The delay has been blamed on difficulties for the contractor – Aberdeen-based Wood Group – being able to secure sub-contracted cable jointers.
Contractor issues blamed
Now, West End councillors Fraser Macpherson and Michael Crichton have been informed the roadworks are unlikely to be removed until mid-August.
An update given to the councillors from SSEN detailed: “Wood (Group) has tried numerous other jointers to attempt to resolve this issue.
“However this has proved very difficult as the jointers need to have attended training on the specific joint being used.
“Wood has now secured dates from the jointers for joint bays on Ancrum Road and Tullideph Road but this means traffic management removal will not be until around August 10 to 17.”
Speaking to The Courier, Mr Macpherson said: “I have been on the council for 24 years and I have never known a longer set of roadworks.
“They have dragged on and on, it must be a world record.
“People are quite rightly at the end of their tether. What was meant to be completed in seven weeks will now not be done until August.
“It’s not been a Rolls Royce approach to sticking to an agreed timescale.”
Work is replacing decades-old cables
An SSEN Transmission spokesperson said: “Due to unforeseen resource issues on the Elmwood-Glenagnes 132kV underground cable replacement project, the completion of works has regrettably been delayed.
“Every effort is being made to progress work as quickly as possible, and we now expect all work to be completed, and traffic management measures removed at Tullideph Road and Ancrum Road, no later than 10 August and 17 August respectively.
“We have updated local residents and councillors of the revised work schedule and we would like to apologise to residents and road users for the delay to the programme and any disruption caused.
“The cables being replaced were installed in 1959 and this project will provide improved operational flexibility and resilience to the power supply in Dundee, in line with our goal to aim for 100% transmission network reliability for homes and businesses.”
Conversation