WORK on a long-awaited plan to install traffic lights and create a new junction on the A78 at Inverkip starts next week (17 March), with drivers warned of months of disruption.
The £3.8million Inverclyde Council project is linked to creation of a new village at the former Inverkip Power Station site. Work is expected to last until November.
Traffic lights are to be introduced at the north entrance to the village and at the entrance to Kip Marina/Harbourside.
Meanwhile, a T-junction off the A78 will be created a short distance south of the cottages at Inverkip Bay, as the main road access to the proposed 650-home Brueacre development at the power station site.
That junction will also get traffic lights but only once 200 houses have been built.
Stuart Jamieson, director of environment and regeneration, told councillors: “There’s no getting away from it. There will be disruption associated with the Inverkip project. We can’t introduce a new junction and improve two other junctions on a trunk road without disruption.
“We need to recognise the works are there to improve things. The byproduct of the works at Main Street and Harbourside will address a number of road safety issues.”
Work at the Brueacre location will involve temporary traffic lights because of the width of the road. It’s expected that two-way traffic can be maintained during the works at Main Street and Harbourside.
The council say that, to improve traffic flow, temporary lights will be managed during peak hours, however there will be some delay. The length of time there is a lane closure in place will be limited as much as possible.
Most of the funding is coming from the Glasgow City Region City Deal infrastructure programme.
A report by officials previously stated: “Inverkip is a regional regeneration priority that recognises the need to address vacant and derelict land, open a significant redevelopment opportunity site, address housing needs supporting population growth and secure economic and environmental benefit.
“The project addresses the restricted network and junction capacity on the A78 trunk road at locations in and around Inverkip.”
