Renfrewshire roads to benefit from £3.8m cash boost.
Towns and villages across Renfrewshire are set to benefit from a multi-million pound investment in the area’s roads.
Renfrewshire Council has set aside £3.8m for road improvements during the 2014/5 financial year, with this figure swelled by the second chunk of a two-year additional investment confirmed in 2013.
Roads engineers have carried out a detailed survey of roads across the area and prioritised a list of locations where the cash will be targeted.
Almost half of the money – £1.7m – will be spent on the full resurfacing of roads most in need of repair and which cannot be patched up by more cost-effective means.
The rest of the investment includes:
– £500k on surface treatments to prolong the life of rural and residential roads;
– £600k on patching and repair work to fix potholes and weak areas;
– £300k to repair and resurface footpaths, and £100k for drainage improvements.
Councillor Eddie Devine, Convener of Renfrewshire Council’s Environment Policy Board, said: “The council sees investment in the area’s roads as a priority, which is why 2013’s budget included an additional £4.3m to be spent over two years.
“Along with all other Scottish councils, we have had to deal with some severe winters in recent years, which have damaged the road network and left a backlog of repairs.
“With more than 800km of local roads to maintain, we obviously can’t be everywhere at once, which is why have to prioritise areas for investment according to need.
“We do understand that potholes and uneven roads cause frustration for drivers but would assure everybody our extra investment is making a difference.
“Surveys show that we have made significant progress in improving road condition in recent years, and we expect that trend to continue once this year’s money is spent.
“Our engineers have worked hard to ensure our resources go on the areas most in need of work and that we target repairs in the most cost-effective way.”
The full road resurfacing will take place at 41 roads throughout the area, taking in both residential and main roads – such as sections of the A8 in Bishopton and main A-roads through Erskine and Bridge of Weir.
The footway resurfacing will take place at 27 locations, including Paisley’s Hawkhead Road, and parts of Johnstone and Renfrew town centres.
Courtesy of Renfrewshire Council.