ROADS authorities hope the storm-damaged A78 at Skelmorlie can re-open next week under traffic light arrangements but also with a complete closure for a number of hours each day as repairs continue.
Contractor Amey, who manage the route for Transport Scotland, say the plan is subject to continued progress and favourable conditions.
It’s proposed that vehicles will be allowed through in both directions from 6.30am on Monday (9 November) using only the southbound carriageway under temporary traffic lights.
However, to allow sea defence repairs to be completed safely, the A78 will still be completely closed to through traffic each day between 9.30am and 3pm, re-opening under temporary traffic lights at 3pm each afternoon until 9.30am the following morning. The signed diversion via the A761, A737 and A760 applies during the daytime closures.
Amey state: “The opening and closing times will be strictly enforced. Vehicles arriving at the closure points after 9.30am will not be able to continue through the closure and will be turned back to the diversion, and the road will not re-open before 3pm. Queuing is expected, particularly before the morning closure and after the afternoon re-opening.”
The daytime closures are required because long-reach excavators are placing rock armour along the sea wall, on a bend, in a constrained space between the carriageway and the shore.
Amey say this work cannot be carried out safely while traffic passes.
Since 26 October, 100 cubic metres of concrete has been placed into the voids beneath the carriageway and around 400 tonnes of rock armour has been installed along the breached sea defence. A estimated 3,200 tonnes or rock armour and 370 cubic metres of concrete are required in total.
