Drivers travelling to Ninewells Hospital in Dundee face weeks of delays as roadworks are carried out on two of the main routes around the hospital.
Scottish Gas Networks will begin a six-week programme of mains replacement works on Riverside Drive on Monday.
In August, resurfacing work will be carried out on Charleston Drive, the main approach to Ninewells through Menzieshill.
Mark Flynn, depute convener of Dundee City Council’s city development committee, said closures on Charleston Drive will impact potentially thousands of people travelling to and from Ninewells Hospital but asked drivers to be patient while the work is carried out.
Xplore Dundee is introducing a shuttle bus for the duration of the works to ferry passengers around Menzieshill and to the hospital due to disruption that will be caused to regular bus services.
The work to resurface the road between Earn Crescent and Lochay Place will begin on Monday August 6 and is not scheduled to finish until Friday August 24, three full weeks later.
Mr Flynn said: “Not only is Charleston Drive one of the main arteries in Menzieshill it is a bus route into and out of Ninewells Hospital so we understand that this work will be an inconvenience to a lot of people.
“The alternative routes will be well signposted and I would ask for patience and co-operation so that Tayside Contracts can get on with what needs to be done as quickly and smoothly as possible.”
He added: “It has been a long time since this stretch of road was resurfaced and I am sure that drivers, passengers and other road users will appreciate the new surface when it is complete.”
The work will be carried out in three phases, the first of which is due to last four days from August 6 and will cover Earn Crescent to Spey Drive.
The second phase, where Charleston Drive meets Spey Drive, will take place over the weekend of August 11 and 12.
The final section of the road, from Spey Drive to Lochay Place, will be resurfaced between August 13 and 24.
Access for businesses and residents will be maintained where possible, although drivers are being asked to avoid the area during the works if possible.
The Scottish Ambulance Service said they did not expect the closures to cause any difficulties for their vehicles getting to the hospital in an emergency.
A spokesman said: “We are always kept informed of road measures and have an opportunity to feedback to the local authority before they are put in place.
“Dundee has a very accessible road network; there are plenty of alternative routes to Ninewells Hospital and we are confident there will be no disruption to our services.”
Christine McGlasson, Xplore Dundee managing director, said: “We realise it’s vitally important to make sure that people can still get to the hospital throughout these roadworks and we’re trying to ensure we maintain the highest level of service possible in this area, despite the disruption to the road network.
“We’re working alongside Dundee City Council to keep this part of the city moving.”
Diversions will be in place for bus services 17, 22, 29 and 29S.
To compensate, a shuttle service 22C will loop clockwise around Menzieshill every 12 minutes providing transport to Ninewells and connecting with service 22 on Glamis Road at Balgay Cemetery.
Stagecoach services will not serve Dickson Avenue and will travel via Ninewells Avenue and Tom McDonald Avenue to Ninewells Hospital.
Meanwhile, NHS Tayside advised drivers on Friday to allow more time for their journeys to Ninewells Hospital due to the Riverside Drive works.
The first phase will see two way temporary traffic lights installed on Riverside Drive at Barnetts Mazda garage for around three weeks.
When this section of work is completed a three-way set of temporary traffic lights will be put in place east of the Tay Rail Bridge.
Riverside Approach will also be closed to southbound traffic and a diversion route will be in place for motorists.
