Blether Tay-Gither – Storytelling in Dundee

From Blether Tay-Gither :

Our July Blether will be on Tuesday 25th July at 7pm in Madigan’s Food Emporium and Bookshop, Castle Street.

The theme this month is “Travel and Transport.”

Hope to see some of you there – all welcome!



Friends of Wighton event this Saturday

From Sheena Wellington :

Bruce Davies – The Other Great American Songbook
Wighton Heritage Centre, Central Library
Saturday 22nd July at 11am (doors open 10.30am)  
Bruce Davies, award winning singer/songwriter, whose rich voice and guitar style has won him friends on three continents, is delighted to present this celebration of songs and stories that shaped an inspired him!

Expect to hear the songs of Bob Dylan; Tom Paxton; Peter, Paul & Mary; Judy Collin; Phil Ochs; Joan Baez; John Denver; Gordon Lightfoot and many more.

Admission £5.     Tea/coffee available for a small donation.



State of Perth Road surfacing work “totally unacceptable” – nearly three weeks on

I have again strongly complained to the council’s Roads Maintenance Partnership about “unacceptable” road surface dressing with chippings on part of Perth Road west of Harris Academy that left the area covered in a thick dust and led to many residents’ complaints.   

I have requested urgent action to deal with large amounts of dust in the area – particularly on the pavements – nearly three weeks on from the original road surfacing work taking place.

I initially raised concerns when the surface dressing took place during the last week of June following numerous constituent complaints.

The council’s Roads Maintenance Partnership has since responded to my complaint as follows :

“We have been using this aggregate in surface dressing for a number of years with great success and it is also a popular stone used by other surface dressing contractors in Scotland. The Arbroath Road section completed last year was the same specification as used at Perth Road this year.

The stone is certified by the quarry as meeting the specification for the surface dressing, and the stone is also washed for dust removal prior to use. Over and above the certification requirements we also undertake secondary independent testing of the surface dressing stone to ensure the delivered load meets the specification requirements. I can confirm all these steps were undertaken and the stone met with the specification requirements.

Unfortunately as you are aware we experienced a significant level of early life dust release following laying and I can confirm this was in excess of what was expected and planned. Please accept my apologies for this. We believe the dust is associated with the stone crushing when initially rolled with the pneumatic tyre rollers (PTR). 

We are considering changing to an alternate stone source next year  … I can confirm the early dust release has no detrimental impact on the service life longevity of the surfacing laid, it being a nuisance and disruption factor rather than performance.

Lastly, as discussed we increased the aftercare significantly at Perth Road following completion of the works. As noted on the Dundee City Council Road Maintenance website page, we usually sweep the road three times after laying, at set intervals. We have been regularly sweeping and vactoring the road surface in conjunction with spraying with water to suppress the dust   …  we believe this will resolve the worst of the dust problem. We will however continue to monitor …  and shall continue with dust suppression spraying and sweeping until we are satisfied the dust issues are no longer prevalent.”

Nearly three weeks on and the situation is still totally unsatisfactory.    The pavement in particular is still covered in a fine dust – see photo above.    How this can be considered an acceptable standard of work is completely beyond me.

Lessons really do need to be learned from this and I have asked the Roads Maintenance Partnership to take immediate steps to improve the Perth Road situation by dealing with any remaining dust, particularly on the pavement.      This has been an extremely poor situation and quality of work and it needs urgently rectified.



Weekly Road Report – West End Ward #dundeewestend

DUNDEE CITY COUNCIL – WEEKLY ROAD REPORT

REPORT FOR WEST END WARD FOR WEEK COMMENCING MONDAY 17 JULY 2017

Riverside Esplanade/Riverside Drive (Tay Road Bridge off ramp to 75m along Riverside Drive) – westbound nearside lane closure for 20 weeks to facilitate V&A construction works.

SSE Glenagnes Cable Renewal – Lochee Road lane restrictions and closures on Blinshall Street, Fleuchar Street and Scott Street for 5 weeks.

A85 Riverside Drive – prohibition of right turn from westbound lane of Riverside Drive into Riverside approach and prohibition of right turn from Riverside Approach in to Riverside Drive for 21 weeks for works to the sea wall.  Prohibitions will only be in place when required.

Perth Road (at River Crescent) – temporary traffic lights for up to one week for sewer remedial works.

Ancrum Road (Charleston Drive to Logie Street) – closed for one week for carriageway resurfacing works.

Glamis Road (Blackness Road South for approx. 100m) – closed southbound from Monday 17 July for 5 days for installation of pedestrian refuge island.

A90 Perth Road (approach to Swallow Roundabout) – overnight (7.30pm – 6.30am) eastbound lane closures on Tuesday 18 July for carriageway patching works.

Forthcoming Roadworks

Perth Road (Hawkhill to Roseangle) – closed from Monday 24 July for 4 weeks for carriageway resurfacing.



Temporary Traffic Order – Perth Road

From the City Council :

Dundee City Council proposes to make an Order under Section 14(1) of the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984 for the purpose of facilitating carriageway resurfacing works.  The Order is expected to be in force for four weeks from 24 July 2017.  Its maximum duration in terms of the Act is eighteen months.

The effect of the Order is to prohibit temporarily all vehicular traffic in Perth Road from Hawkhill to Roseangle.

Working hours will be 11 am to 8 pm Monday to Friday and 11 am to 6 pm Saturdays.  Access will be maintained outwith these times.

Alternative routes will be available via (1) Hawkhill,, West Marketgait and Nethergate, and (2) Roseangle, Magdalen Yard Road and Windsor Street.

Queries can be answered by the Network Management Team, City Development Department, Dundee House, 50 North Lindsay Street, Dundee, DD1 1LS, or phone 433082.