Roads ‘logjammed’ as main route onto Kingsway in Dundee shut

Some drivers abandoned their journeys after being met with long queues on Tuesday.

By James Simpson

November 7 2023, 10:33am

The A923 Coupar Angus Road is shut between the Kingsway and Faraday Street. Image: Google Street View

Drivers have faced long queues after a main road accessing the Kingsway in Dundee was shut.

Commuters trying to access the A90 via the A923 Coupar Angus Road were diverted on Tuesday as roadworks got under way.

The closure is in place between the Coupar Angus Road roundabout and Faraday Street, at the entrance to Camperdown Leisure Park.

It means drivers going to and from the Birkhill area are having to use side roads.

Traffic data showing long queues on Gourdie Brae, south of Birkhill. Image: Google Maps

The closure is in place for a week as part of a five-week programme to renew electricity cables.

One driver told The Courier vehicles were using Gourdie Brae, between Birkhill and Myrekirk, while others were being sent through Dryburgh Industrial Estate.

He said: “The Birkhill to Gourdie road was a nightmare, with a huge queue by 8.10am.

“If you tried to drive along Coupar Angus Road towards Camperdown, the road onto the A90 was closed with diversions through the industrial estate.

Traffic was also at a standstill through Dryburgh Industrial Estate. Image: Google Maps

“Then you hit more queues again.

“Folk were trying to go from Birkhill to Myrekirk instead so it was logjammed.

“We just gave up and went home instead.”

A923 roadworks running for a week

According to Dundee City Council, the work is part of a cable renewal scheme from Scottish and Southern Energy Networks (SSEN).

Rolling closures are in place along the route from Harrison Road to Dunsinane Avenue during the programme.

Following the closure of the road between the Kingsway and Faraday Street, a week’s closure will be in place between the Kingsway and Dunsinane Avenue – affecting traffic heading to and from Dryburgh and Lochee – from next Tuesday (November 14).

A spokesperson for SSEN Distribution said: “We’d like to thank commuters and road-users for their patience and understanding as we carry out a £2.2 million upgrade to the electricity network in the Kingsway area of Dundee.

‘Key part of infrastructure’ for Ardler, St Mary’s, Macalpine and Downfield

“Our teams are currently working to replace two high-voltage underground circuits – from our Lyndhurst substation to the Macalpine Road substation – a key part of our infrastructure powering homes and businesses in the Ardler, St Mary’s, Macalpine and Downfield parts of the city and, for everyone’s safety, it has been necessary to close parts of the roads they are working on.

“These temporary road closures have been agreed in advance with Dundee City Council and Amey, and are scheduled to last for two weeks, with next week seeing us work on the other side of the dual carriageway.

“We appreciate how frustrating delays can be, and we will do all we can to complete this essential work as safely and as quickly as possible.”