CONDITIONS at a vital Inverclyde countryside route that’s been closed for more than four years have “significantly” worsened recently.
Dunrod Road, which leads to Loch Thom, has been shut since the end of July of 2022 because it was considered to be in danger of collapse. Since then, the only vehicle access to Greenock Cut visitor centre at Cornalees has been via Old Largs Road.
Councillors agreed in September 2023 that a new stretch of road should be built further up the hill, at an estimated cost of £2million, but investigation work showed that the ground conditions are highly variable which would add £2.5million to the project because of the amount of slope stabilisation and drainage required.
In March, Inverclyde Council’s environment and regeneration committee heard that route realignment was no longer a viable option. It agreed to look again at repairing the road, at an estimated cost of £1.65million to £2million.
The latest update from officials is due to be considered by councillors at a meeting on Thursday. The report states: “External engineering consultants have been engaged to scope the necessary further ground investigation works required to inform the development of engineering solutions for road reconstruction and improvement works.
“The ground investigation work has been completed with draft report received and being assessed by the consultant engineers.
“Design options have been developed, however, due to recent further significant movement along the failed section of road, the designs and ground investigation outputs require to be re-assessed to establish the viability of the previously identified design options.
“It should be noted that the extent of the movement currently being observed on site may impact the scope and cost of any engineering interventions that may be identified.”
