Bridge of Weir Community Council

Road Closure on Torr Road. Bridge of Weir

I recognise the closure of Torr Road is continuing to cause considerable disruption to the local road network and would like to give you a progress report on the extensive civil engineering works being undertaken to bring the road back into service at the earliest.
Despite the poor weather at the end of last year, the contract to stabilise the substantial areas of weathered rock face on the embankment above Torr Road was successfully completed on 26th January 2010. This will allow excavation of Torr Road without any con-cerns over the stability of the embankment supporting Horsewood Road.
To allow the wall supporting Torr road to be demolished safely, public utility apparatus has to be diverted and during the contract for the rock slope stabilisation the utility companies have been preparing detailed designs for their elements of the works.
As the site is very compact and congested, utilities have to be moved in a phased manner. Scottish Water's contractor commenced sewer diversion works on Monday 8th February and they anticipate completion of these works towards the end of the month. Other phases of the works will follow with British Telecom commencing diversion of their apparatus. BT have major facilities in the road and their works will unfortunately take up to 8 weeks. Finally Scottish Power will begin temporary service diversions with a planned completion date of end May for all the utility works.
The design of a new reinforced concrete cantilever retaining wall to support Torr Road along the undermined section has been taking shape in parallel with the above works. Tenders will be invited for the wall reconstruction next month. This work is programmed to last 8 weeks and will include construction of the new retaining wall, improvements to the surface water drainage on Torr Road, facing of the new concrete buttresses supporting Horsewood Road, diversion of the visible power cables running down the Horsewood Road embankment and replacement of the pedestrian fence on the footpath above Torr Road.
Torr Road is anticipated to re-open to vehicular traffic towards the end of July 2010.
I recognise that the above information will not reduce the problems residents and road users are currently experiencing because of these structural repair works but trust it will give some understanding of the actions we are taking to reopen Torr Road at the earliest
If there is any further information or clarification I can provide please don't hesitate to get in touch.

Yours sincerely

lain Hamilton

Head of Roads