MORE overnight working is being called for to cut roadwork delays in Dumfries.
South Scotland MSP Colin Smyth is urging Amey Highways to consider carrying out more of the current drainage works overnight at a busy junction on the A701, to minimise the time the road at Heathhall will be reduced to a single lane.
His call comes after local residents described the current “traffic chaos” caused by the work being carried out at the Tinwald Downs roundabout.
The work started on Monday but isn’t scheduled to be finished until the end of March and in the meantime the road has been reduced to a single lane, managed by temporary traffic lights. There have been lengthy tailbacks as a result.
Mr Smyth said: “People understand that some roadworks are often necessary, and I know I have complained to Amey about drainage problems in the area on behalf of constituents.
“But it does seem that the A701 is the most dug up road in the region and roadworks involving different agencies never seems to be coordinated to take place at the same time.
“Given the disruption, it is disappointing that works stops at 5 pm rather than having overnight shifts. If there was a 24-hour operation in place to complete the work on A701 we would only have roadworks for around for five weeks instead of the planned ten and that would make a real difference.”
