Motorists left fuming on road to nowhere

Restrictions on Dundee Street where non-existent roadworks have caused tailbacks.

Contractors had been carrying out work on the bridge over the Western Approach Road at Dundee Street in Fountainbridge.

But traffic restrictions remained in place despite McKean & Co, the Glasgow-based company carrying out the work, going into administration. Angry motorists complained about lengthy tailbacks after the bridge was dug up, but no work seemed to be carried out.

Officials said legal restrictions prevented road bosses from putting up signs to advise drivers what was happening.

One motorist said: "The entrance to the Western Approach Road was blocked each morning, with queues going back as far as Slateford Road. The council were not treating this seriously at all."

The council said McKean & Co had been waterproofing the bridge at Dundee Street but had gone into administration on June 13.

However, it was only yesterday morning that the council's traffic information department became aware of this. Officials said there had also been "legal constraints" within the administration process that prevented the council from working on the site or making public any information about the contractor.

The council said it was now seeking a new contractor, but said it would be next month before work resumed on the site.

A spokeswoman said: "We are due to start talks with the new contractors this week and aim to have work resume as quickly as possible."

There are currently around 500 sets of roadworks ongoing or about to begin in the Capital, according to official figures.

Most of the works are the responsibility of the city council or utility companies, including Scottish Gas, ScottishPower and BT.

The council has brought in a number of measures in recent years, including fining utility firms, to make sure all repairs are carried out quickly and effectively.

Severe winter weather in recent years has seen spending on roads in Edinburgh go over-budget because of emergency repairs.

But rural authorities have traditionally spent a higher proportion of their budgets on roads because their road network is much bigger.

Even when compared to other cities, the amount of the budget spent on roads by the city council is still lower. Glasgow spends 2.3 per cent of its budget on roads, while Aberdeen's ratio is 2.18 per cent.

At one point Edinburgh faced a 80-million backlog of repairs to crumbling roads and pavements after decades of under-investment.