Drivers are facing further major disruption at one of Forfar’s busiest junctions.
Just a few weeks after the key project got under way at the West Port, Angus Council says it is going to have to dig deeper to repair the pot-holed road surface.
The news will mean a week-long shutdown of Dundee Loan, causing more inconvenience for motorists already faced with what has been described as a ”chaotic” situation.
A council spokesman said: ”Due to the unforeseen poor condition of the existing road structure on the approaches to West Port junction, discovered during the current roadworks, additional works are required.
”Sections of the roads will need to be reconstructed to a greater depth than previously anticipated, rather than a simple removal and replacement of the existing road surface layer.”
The spokesman added that the discovery means Dundee Loan will need to be closed to traffic from Monday November 21 to Friday November 25.
Dundee Loan will then reopen and the junction will run on temporary three-way traffic lights, using Dundee Loan/West High Street/Craig o’ Loch Road.
The spokesman added: ”This will run in tandem with the closure of Glamis Road section of the junction from Monday November 21 for a period of approximately three weeks.”
The spokesman accepted the works are likely to cause “some inconvenience to motorists” but stressed it should mean less need for roadworks in the area in future.
Drivers have expressed frustration at the diversions already put in place. There were weekend reports of problems, possibly caused by some motorists ignoring the red lights and leading to further frustrations amongst queuing drivers.
The West Port works have also diverted more traffic on to the town’s St James Road, where the opening of Forfar’s new Asda store has also increased traffic flow, leading to bottleneck difficulties at peak times on the busy street.
The council says the need for deeper reconstruction will increase the overall cost.
”This cost is likely to rise as additional work is required, due to the unforeseen ground conditions relating to the structure of the existing approach roads. Asda are contributing some £30,000 to the cost of the traffic signals work,” said the spokesman.
The project has also come under fire from pedestrians, one of whom said: ”The weekend was chaos, with no room for people to walk, far less get by with prams or buggies.”
The council said it had addressed some of the initial problems and would continue to monitor traffic and pedestrian access.