Emergency closure of Burnfoot Bridge
Published Monday, 14 February 2011
An emergency closure has been put in place at Burnfoot Bridge near Blackwood.
Due to serious damage caused by the severe winter weather the bridge is now no longer considered safe.
Repairs will commence immediately and is expected to take three to four weeks to complete, subject to the weather.
A signed alternative route will be in place to divert traffic via the B7018 Lesmahagow to Kirkfieldbank road. Local access from the B7086 Blackwood to Hazelbank road will be maintained at all times.
Strathclyde Partnership for Transport (SPT) will also be operating a minibus shuttle service and this will run from Monday to Saturday, between Auchenheath and Lesmahagow via the access to Quarry Park on the B7086, Dillarburn on the B7018 and the B7078 Carlisle Road. The frequency of this service will be scheduled to link with the No258 Lesmahagow to Lanark service operated by Whitelaws Coaches. A timetable will be posted on the bus stops at Auchenheath.
Burnfoot Bridge is at one end of the B7086 Blackwood to Hazelbank road and the bridge at the other end of the road, Stonebyres Road, was only reopened yesterday (Sunday 13 February) following repairs for similar reasons.
Councillor Chris Thompson, the chair of the council's Enterprise Resources Committee, said: "The severe weather that we experienced over the last two winters, particularly the extreme and prolonged periods of sub-zero temperatures, has had a significant impact on the condition of masonry arch bridges on the road network.
"The rate at which the condition of some of these structures has deteriorated has been quite alarming and beyond that expected, and indeed experienced, for structures of this type.
"Given the condition of the masonry bridges that have been brought to our attention the council is now carrying out a programme of special inspections on the 290 masonry bridges in our area.
"On completion of these inspections a prioritised programme of remedial works, subject to available funding, will be implemented to reduce any defects developing further."
For more information on road works in the South Lanarkshire area please go to the Road works page.
