Tay Road Bridge & V&A #Dundee

My many thanks to the West End resident for these superb Dundee photos!

Tay Road Bridge 50th Anniversary Celebrations #trb50

Yesterday’s Tay Road Bridge 50th Anniversary Celebrations were fantastic – including the weather!

 

Here’s a few photos and also a short video of the Lochgelly High School Pipe Band, who opened the event and are hugely talented and entertaining :

 

 

 

 

Tay Road Bridge 50th Anniversary – Free Family Fun Day! #trb50

Yesterday, along with a number of other members of the Tay Road Bridge Joint Board and senior council officers, I took part in a meeting updating us on the bridge’s 50th Anniversary events next month.

The bridge is 50 years old on the 18th August and, by way of way of celebration, the bridge manager, staff and board members are organising a free family day of events and activities on Sunday 21st August.    It’ll be a fabulous day out for all the family – more details here – don’t miss it!

 

Busy Monday …

It has been a busy Monday – including :

 

+ A meeting of the Tay Road Bridge Board.    In addition to the usual business about board administration and finances, there was an update on the proposed 50th anniversary celebrations that will take place on Sunday 21st August.   Events will take place on the bridge and in the new Slessor Gardens and there will be a photography competition, vintage buses and other vehicles taking part, a pipe band, a memorabilia roadshow and public art on display.

 

+ A meeting of the Rail Station Concourse Project Board.   It was good to hear the progress with the construction which is well on programme.

 

+ Two ward surgeries – at the Mitchell Street Centre and the West Park Centre.

 

+ A meeting of the Discovery Walk Committee.   The Discovery Walk will comprise of plaques set into the paved area of the green space at the heart of the waterfront development – to celebrate the contributions of Dundee people who have contributed to science and society in a highly visible and permanent way.    The walk will be officially opened on 6th April and tonight’s meeting discussed the details of the opening, which will be a great day for Dundee.

New Tay Road Bridge Twitter service

As a member of the Tay Road Bridge Joint Board, I am delighted to see today’s launch of the new bridge Twitter account which will give bridge users useful travel information, including regular and accurate information about the bridge status such as weather restrictions to bridge access, etc.

 

Earlier this year, the Board discussed having a social media presence as a useful service to the public and I am pleased that the Bridge Manager and his staff have moved this forward.

 

The new Twitter account – @tay_road_bridge – is live as of today and the bridge website has also been updated with a fresh new look and is accessible at www.tayroadbridge.co.uk.

 

I recently visited the bridge offices to see the new services in prototype and during the visit was given a very interesting tour of the bridge – here’s a photo of me (below) under the southbound roadway of the bridge!

 

Harris Academy site tour … and City Council meetings

This morning, I took part in the latest Tay Road Bridge Board meeting.   Thereafter, along with three other councillors and council officers, I took part in a tour of the Harris Academy new building.    

 

I am pleased to say it is making really good progress – some photos below :

 

 

 

 

Gym Hall

Climbing wall in the games area

Community entrance area

After my usual Monday ward surgeries, I participated in tonight’s City Council meetings at which I asked questions about work to improve air quality particularly in the Lochee Road area, supported the principle of restructuring council departments proposed by the council’s Chief Executive and asked about progress with the proposed Saltire Card for improved public transport arrangements for passengers.

Busy Monday …

A busy Monday started at Blackness Library where library staff, community councillors and I took part in drawing the winners of the shoppers’ prize draw and children’s window spotting competition as part of West End Christmas Fortnight – the full winners’ list will be published in the next couple of days.   Photo below!

Jo, Alan and Ann from West End Community Council undertake the prize draw!

The day also included my taking part in today’s Tay Road Bridge Board meeting, immediately followed by my chairing a residents’ meeting at the Corso Street Sheltered Lounge for residents in the area.   The meeting was primarily to discuss with tenants the council’s possible rents options for 2015/16 – two Housing Department representatives addressed the meeting – although we also had a very good discussion about sheltered housing and other issues.

 

After my two Monday surgeries at the West Park Centre and the Mitchell Street Centre, I took part in tonight’s Development Management Committee, which considers planning applications.   In a discussion about the renewal of planning consent (originally granted in 2011) for Tay Rope Works, I sought assurances on a number of issues raised by objectors including avoiding HMO use, parking and boundary walling.     

 

I supported both Western Gateway planning applications that would provide high-quality new housing and local facilities.   One application was lost by 2 votes, the other approved with the Convener’s casting vote.   

 

Oh, and we’re still missing Kevin unfortunately …

 

Tay Road Bridge – an update

Further to the concerns I raised on behalf of constituents earlier this week about tailbacks on the Tay Road Bridge (and reported in last night’s Evening Telegraph), I have just received this update from the Roads Maintenance Partnership Manager at Dundee City Council/Tayside Contracts :

“To minimise disruption to traffic, these advance works were planned to be carried out over 3 days with the traffic management only in place outwith the peak periods of 7.30am to 9.30am and 3.30pm to 6.30pm.

On that day, demolition works were being carried out to the splitter island at the south end of the bridge and works did not progress as planned such that it was considered safer to leave the traffic management in place whilst works continued.

In hindsight, when it was clear that the works were not progressing as planned, a decision should have been taken earlier to stop work at a safe point, and the traffic management measures removed as planned at 3.30pm.

Please note that other advance works were planned and carried out overnight that night further down the A92 removing barriers to enable the future contraflow measures required for the main surfacing works to be implemented over the coming 3 weekends starting 10 October 2014 (Friday 7.30pm to Monday 6.00am).

Please note that the remaining advance works will be carried out with the traffic management only in place outwith the peak periods of 7.30am to 9.30am and 3.30pm to 6.30pm.”

I am pleased at the reassurance that further works will be carried out with the traffic management only in place outwith the peak periods and I hope that will ensure less disruption to traffic than happened earlier this week.

Monday activities

This morning, I participated in the latest meeting of the Tay Road Bridge Joint Board, the first at which the new Bridge Manager, Alan Hutchison, took part.    Before the commencement of the meeting, pupils from Pitlochry High School were presented with prizes for winning (and also taking second place!) the West Point Bridge Design Competition, sponsored by the Board.

 

During the Joint Board meeting, I commented on the external audit report and also sought assurances about value for money for a £300 000+ project for bridge deck surfacing maintenance repair works.

 

After my ward surgeries at the Mitchell Street and West Park Centres this afternoon, I participated in tonight’s City Council Development Management Committee, at which I spoke in favour of a successful amendment by Bailie Derek Scott to oppose an increase in non-food sales at Sainsbury Broughty Ferry, stating that we must protect our district shopping centres.   With regard to a request for Direct Action regarding to non-compliance of an Advertising Enforcement Notice affecting two properties in Perth Road, I queried the necessity to bring these to committee (given the small costs involved) but was assured that there was no significant delay caused by this going through the committee cycle.

 

Earlier today, I also visited the Roseangle mini-recycling centre, following residents’ concerns about the over-flow of recycling and need for more frequent collections.   As you can see below, the complaints are more than justified!  :

The City Council’s Environment Department was very swift to reply to my request for action, stating:

 

“I’ve asked one of the Project Assistants to look into this & monitor the situation at Roseangle over the next few weeks, making any necessary changes to the uplift frequencies.”

 

However, I have also asked for an immediate uplift of items, given the mess at the site.

Dundee City Waterfront Works Update

With thanks to the Tay Road Bridge Manager, here is the monthly update on the Dundee City Waterfront Development works and how this has impacted on traffic on the bridge:

 

Contract 3 – Sir Robert McAlpine (SRM)

 

Progress March 2014

 

There have been no major issues affecting traffic accessing and exiting the bridge despite Customs House on ramp being reduced to one lane for the month of March

 

Road surfacing and white lines to ramps

Installation of parapets

Installation of expansion joints

Preparation for relocation of traffic control barriers, lights and warning wig-wags on plaza area

 

Planned Works – April 2014

 

Completion of all outstanding surfacing, white lines, crash cushions, traffic control measures on plaza, relocation of Police Automatic Number Plate recognition cameras and ancillary works to allow the works to completely open on Friday 18th April.

Construction of the Tay Road Bridge – a fascinating film!

Dundee crowds at the bridge opening – 1966

As a member of the Tay Road Bridge Joint Board, I was interested to be advised recently by the Bridge Manager that the Scottish Screen Archive has released an on-line version of a film made in 1967 recording  the construction of the Tay Road Bridge.    

 

There’s a link to this fascinating film on the Board’s website and you can access it directly here.     It is in full colour and runs for half an hour.

 

There are a number of other fascinating videos about the construction of the bridge and its opening ceremony, including this below that has a mix of black and white and colour footage:

Monday activities

Yesterday, I participated in the latest Tay Road Bridge Board meeting, and, later in the day, held my weekly ward surgeries at the Mitchell Street Centre and the West Park Centre.

 

Last night, I attended the City Council’s Development Management Committee.   I supported a move to bring a new restaurant to the Kings Cross Road area that will bring much needed jobs to the city.   Additionally, I moved refusal of a house extension in Invergowrie Drive that I felt was contrary to the council’s local development plan as it impacts adversely on the neighbouring property in terms of physical overshadowing.   I won the vote on this matter 17-3.

Tay Road Bridge Joint Board meeting

Earlier today, I participated in the latest meeting of the Tay Road Bridge Joint Board, at which I was pleased to nominate my Liberal Democrat colleague, Cllr Maggie Taylor of Fife Council, as new Chair of the Board. (Maggie is pictured – right).   

 

I was delighted that Maggie was elected as the new Chair.   Cllr Jimmy Black of Dundee City Council was elected Vice Chair.

 

There were useful discussions about a number of Tay Road Bridge matters and I asked questions in relation to planned engineering works in relation to the bridge’s north approach viaduct.

Monthly Update – Dundee City Waterfront Works

From the Tay Road Bridge Manager:

 

Here is the monthly update on the Dundee City Waterfront Development works and how this has impacted on traffic on the bridge:

 

Contract 3 – Sir Robert McAlpine (SRM)

 

Progress May 2013

 

There have been no issues affecting traffic accessing and exiting the bridge. 

 

As a result of a minor delay to the bridgeworks the current traffic management will now be in place until mid to late June 2013 to allow the first phase of the new ramps to be completed and commissioned

 

Waterproofing and strengthening of the existing deck on the southbound plaza has been completed along with street lighting installation, paving and surfacing works ongoing.

 

Planned Works – June 2013

 

Finishing works to the west section of the Marketgait Bridge will be completed and paving works to central reserve and verge areas carried out.

 

Construction of new north approach to the bridge will be completed sufficiently to allow traffic to start using .

 

There will be two night time closures of the bridge (01:00 to 04:00) required towards the middle of June to carry out works to move barriers and traffic signals to accommodate the new traffic layout but precise dates are not available. Off peak restrictions will be applied to Customs House (Southbound) on ramp in the run up to the closures for preparatory works associated with the new barriers and signals.

 

As with all closures they will be notified via the Planned Restrictions section of the Road Bridge web site.

 

Also information on the works is available on the Board web site www.tayroadbridge.co.uk.

Latest Waterfront Update

Below is the latest update on the Dundee City Waterfront Development works from the Tay Road Bridge Manager and how this has impacted on traffic on the bridge:

 

Contract 3 – Sir Robert McAlpine (SRM)

 

Progress April 2013

 

There have been no issues affecting traffic accessing and exiting the bridge.

 

As a result of a minor delay to the bridgeworks the current traffic management will now be in place until early June 2013 to allow the first phase of the new ramps to be completed and commissioned

 

Construction of the deck of the west half of the structure has been completed and the North approach ramp surfacing is ongoing. Preparation for waterproofing and strengthening of the existing deck on the southbound plaza area is underway.

 

Planned Works – May 2013

 

Waterproofing and finishing works to the west section of the Marketgait Bridge will be completed

 

Construction of new north approach to the bridge will be completed sufficiently to allow traffic to start using .

 

There will be one or two night time closures of the bridge (01:00 to 04:00) required towards the end of May to carry out works to move barriers and traffic signals to accommodate the new traffic layout but precise dates are not available.

 

As with all closures they will be notified via the Planned Restrictions section of the web site.

 

If there are any substantial changes to the above I will send an update.

 

Also information on the works is available on the Board web site www.tayroadbridge.co.uk.

Waterfront Development – Update

Update from the Bridge Manager, Tay Road Bridge Joint Board :

 

Below is the monthly update on the Dundee City Waterfront Development works and how this has impacted on traffic on the bridge.

Contract 3 – Sir Robert McAlpine (SRM) –

 

Progress March 2013

 

There have been minor delays for north bound traffic leaving the bridge during off peak periods due to lane restrictions on the new North Boulevard section. Other than this there have been no issues affecting traffic accessing and exiting the bridge.

 

The current traffic management will be in place until mid May 2013 to allow the first phase of the new ramps to be completed and commissioned.

 

Construction of the deck of the west half of the structure  and the North approach ramp is ongoing.

 

Planned Works – April 2013

 

Construction of the west portion of Marketgait Bridge will continue to completion.

 

Construction of new north approach to the bridge will be completed sufficiently to allow traffic to start using.

 

SRM have no planned works that will directly affect the bridge traffic at present for April 2013.

 

If there are any substantial changes to the above I will send an update.

 

Also information on the works is available on the Board web site www.tayroadbridge.co.uk.

Monday meetings …

Yesterday, I took part in the latest Tay Road Bridge Joint Board meeting.   I have recently joined the board and yesterday’s meeting covered a number of financial, engineering and operational matters.

 

It was good to learn that recent pier collision protection works have been successfully completed, some £1.36 million under budget.     I asked a question regarding the recent employers’ liability audit, an audit that had a very positive outcome.

 

Later yesterday, I held my weekly Monday ward surgeries at the Mitchell Street Centre and at Harris Academy.