The damaged flyover across the A90 at St Madoes will close completely to traffic for three weeks in a further blow to struggling businesses in Glencarse.
Bear Scotland announced Phase Two of the £200,000 repair works will begin on Monday. The overpass will be shut to motorists who will be sent on a five mile detour via the Kinfauns and Glendoick junctions.
Businesses on the Glencarse side of the bridge are apprehensive about the closure after seeing their shops take an 85% hit when the overpass closed for six weeks last year after it was struck by a lorry carrying a crane.
Fleur Young, who runs the Chestnut Tree coffee shop, believes the closure will be another setback in a difficult year.
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She also claimed Bear Scotland originally told them the closure would be for between 10 days and two weeks and the roads body has not returned to inform them otherwise.
“It’s one blow after another at the moment. Last time the bridge was closed we were 85% down so we’re just bracing ourselves at the moment.
“All of the shops on this stretch are hanging on by their fingertips. It has just been awful.
“There’s no compensation for anything like this and it took them so long to reopen the bridge when we get going, it was into lockdown.”
The coffee shop owner thanked her customers for their support over a difficult 12 months.
“We’re very grateful to our customers that have kept us going through this lockdown and everything else. Lets hope that no-one drives into the bridge again.”
Phase two of the repair job will see the restrictions lifted on the A90 after sections of the road were narrowed to one lane in each direction since mid-August.
Ian Stewart, Bear Scotland’s North East Unit Representative said: “We’re pleased to see that the first phase of complex repairs is on course to finish this week and that we will soon be able to remove the traffic management that is currently in place on the A90 carriageway.
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“The aim of the final phase will be to get the top of the bridge repaired and resurfaced, which will enable us to remove the temporary traffic light controls and open the bridge to two-way traffic.
“The traffic management that will be in place throughout the final phase is necessary for ensuring the safety of our workforce and motorists as well as ensuring that the repairs take place over the shortest possible timescale helping to minimise disruption.
“We thank all road users and the local community for their patience in advance while we carry out the final phase of repairs.”
