Road closure shambles (Bruce Leask)

It is about time that the Shetland Islands Council’s roads department was taken to task over their handling of road closures.

For two consecutive weekends they had the section of the South Road between Cairnfield Road and Gilbertson Road closed to traffic for no constructive reason. No work was being carried out from Friday afternoon to Monday morning and on both occasions the road surface was in a drivable condition, with nothing more than cones and barriers on the said sections.

This section of road is one of the main road arteries round the town, and to close it needlessly, is to say the least, being bloody minded. Let’s have some common sense and consideration from the roads department for a change.

Bruce Leask
Cairnfield Road,
Lerwick.

COMMENTS(6)

Add Your Comment
  • Simon Robertson

    • July 17th, 2012 16:32

    What a ridiculous non story you are creating here… First of all the road did not meet legal requirements to be open, secondly due to council cutbacks i assume weekend work is over time which i’d think they’re trying to cut back on (unfortunately for the worker) thirdly how do you know they weren’t on site elsewhere over the isles at the time you have in question and lastly the diversion took what? 2 minutes…

    REPLY
  • Sandy McMillan

    • July 17th, 2012 17:39

    I totally agree with Bruce, cut backs or no cut back this part of the main road around the town seems to have gone on for ever, Bruce is a Senior officer in one of the emergency services, having this part of the road closed, Bruce has to travel twice the distance if not more, when his services are required to safe lifes.

    Sandy McMillan

    REPLY
  • David Ferguson

    • July 17th, 2012 21:33

    Well said Bruce. The road looked in good condition to me before they dug it up, and Simon a diversion may take 2 or 3 minutes but when you are a taxi driver going that way maybe 7 or 8 times in an hour it soon adds up and is very much an inconvenience.

    REPLY
  • David Nicolson

    • July 17th, 2012 22:44

    Mr Simon Robertson,

    Get down off your high horse. I agree 100% with Brucie on this one.
    How do you know all your facts are correct??

    REPLY
  • Bruce Leask

    • July 18th, 2012 1:26

    Simon Robertson is completely missing the point of my letter, what I am asking is why the road remained closed when it did not need to be? and by keeping the diversion going a safety aspect is of concern as the diversion is causing traffic to negotiate already congested residential streets where children sometimes play.

    REPLY
  • David Leask

    • July 18th, 2012 10:59

    I can fully sympathise with Bruce on the road closures as the ‘diversion’ has included vehicles using roads not suitable for the volume of traffic diverted. In Goodlad Crescent there has been constant issues with cars driving along the pavement and reversing (poorly) as the road has restricted space. It is at the stage just now that I question drivers abilities and if they are aware of children playing along the pavement ‘s. The road is also a 20mph zone so drivers please take note……

    REPLY

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