THE main roadworks phase of the £24 million Central Greenock project is due to begin at the end of this month.
Preparatory roadworks are scheduled to start on Monday 27 July with lane closures around the Bullring Roundabout followed by roadworks from Monday 3 August which will see the closure of the A78 High Street flyover and a section of the A8 between Wallace Place and the eastern side of Dalrymple Street opposite Tesco.
Access along the A8 and into Greenock Town Centre will be maintained in both directions by a contraflow traffic management between Container Way and the western side of the A8 Dalrymple Street across from the Municipal Buildings.
The closures are to allow for the demolition of the High Street flyover and south side of the Bullring Roundabout to be replaced with low level signalised junctions as part of the Central Greenock redevelopment project.
These measures on the Bullring are expected to be in place until July 2027.
Following this, the traffic management will be altered to allow for the demolition of the north side of the Bullring to be completed.
All roadworks are due for completion by late 2027 and further details about the second phase will be made available nearer the time.
An alternative route will also be in operation between Ratho Street and Barr’s Cottage for the duration of the roadworks.
The Central Greenock project is largely funded by the UK Government and is being delivered by Inverclyde Council and main contractor Balfour Beatty.
The redevelopment is designed to open up the town centre and improve access for pedestrians and vehicles while removing ageing infrastructure.
The first stage of the project saw the demolition of Hector McNeil House with work now ongoing to knock down the eastern section of the Oak Mall before attention turns to removing the A78 flyover which runs over the top of the shopping centre.
Councillor Stephen McCabe, leader of Inverclyde Council, said: “The Central Greenock project is really gathering pace and this is another significant milestone in the modernisation of the town centre and comes on the back of the recent Pride in Place Plan launch which will see a further £20m invested in Greenock over the next decade.
“We know how frustrating roadworks can be and there will inevitably be disruption during this vital phase of the project but every effort is being made to keep the disruption to an absolute minimum and, crucially, ensure Greenock Town Centre remains open for business throughout.
“It’s important that people plan ahead and leave extra time for their journeys.”
From Monday 27 July, the Bullring Roundabout and Hunter’s Place car parks will also close to cars and pedestrians.
Wallace Place, including the slip road off the A8, will be shut to vehicles from Monday 3 August.
Pedestrian access, including to and from Central Library, the Greenock Fire Museum and Municipal Buildings, will remain open but there will be no onward access to Hunter’s Place.
The main pedestrian diversion will be via the crossing at William Street, along Dalrymple Street and the Bullring, onto Container Way, Dalrymple Street and Hunter’s Place.
Letters are due to go out from next week to people living in and around the main road traffic diversion routes.
In preparation for the main roadworks phase of the Central Greenock project, changes to the roads network have been made, including the realignment of Ratho Street, a new pedestrian crossing on Dunlop Street at Notre Dame High, and mini-roundabouts on Dalrymple Street and Container Way either side of Laird Street to improve the flow of traffic.
An additional temporary mini-roundabout will be installed at the top of Sir Michael Street at the junction with Regent Street and Roxburgh Street from Monday 13 July with the work expected to last a week. Temporary three-way traffic lights will be in place for these works.
More information about the Central Greenock project is available on the Inverclyde Council website at www.inverclyde.gov.uk/centralgreenockproject
