DRIVERS and shoppers are facing months of disruption with major roadworks starting this month on one of the city’s busiest streets.
The city council has sent a letter to businesses on Union Street and Jamaica Street warning them work will begin on the new Fastlink bus route on January 30.
It admits the 14 week project will cause disruption but claims the end result will be a greatly improved environment.
Work will involve widening the east footway of Union Street and replacing the surface with high quality natural stone.
One of the three bus stops on Union Street will be removed and two new modern bus stop shelters will be installed with real time passenger information and improved disabled access.
Similar improvement works will be carried out on Jamaica Street.
The letter says: “With more than 180 buses an hour and tens of thousands of passengers per day, Union Street will be transformed with state of the art passenger facilities, real-time information and widened footpaths along with upgraded street lighting.
“It will also see the simplification of the junction at Union Street and Argyle Street.
“While you may experience some disruption during the progression of the works, the scheme when complete will provide a greatly improved streetscape improvement.”
The first phase of the work is already underway with improvements being made on Oswald Street and Midland Street where the footway and carriageway being upgraded together with improved street lighting.
Work has also been carried out at both junctions of Midland Street and Oswald Street with Jamaica Street to help pedestrians and bus stops have been improved.
Roads bosses say the work will be carried out by MacLay Civil Engineering who will work with local residents and businesses to maintain access and servicing as far as practical.
But the letter says: “Due to the nature of the works, it may be necessary to allow additional time for servicing as available loading space will be further away than normal.”
There will be no loading or waiting on both sides of Union Street from the southern kerb of Gordon Street to a point 70m north of the north kerb of Argyle Street.
Strathclyde Partnership for Transport has welcomed the work to provide the new bus link.
A spokesman said: “We are delighted the long awaited improvement works on Union Street and Jamaica Street are now beginning. “
“These works will deliver essential bus priority measures and improve passenger facilities in the city centre.
“We have been co-ordinating with the bus operators to ensure any disruption to travel is kept to a minimum during the improvements.”
City council transport spokeswoman Elaine McDougall said Union Street and Jamaica Street suffered from bus congestion, poor bus stop facilities and limited passenger information.
She added: “The work we are doing will bring major improvements to the movement of buses on the Renfield Street/Union Street corridor and improve the general area for all pedestrians including bus passengers.
“It will also simplify the traffic movements at the Argyle Street/Union Street junction, reducing the potential for accidents.”
Union Street will remain open to traffic while work is being carried out.
The city council has sent a letter to businesses on Union Street and Jamaica Street warning them work will begin on the new Fastlink bus route on January 30.
It admits the 14 week project will cause disruption but claims the end result will be a greatly improved environment.
Work will involve widening the east footway of Union Street and replacing the surface with high quality natural stone.
One of the three bus stops on Union Street will be removed and two new modern bus stop shelters will be installed with real time passenger information and improved disabled access.
Similar improvement works will be carried out on Jamaica Street.
The letter says: “With more than 180 buses an hour and tens of thousands of passengers per day, Union Street will be transformed with state of the art passenger facilities, real-time information and widened footpaths along with upgraded street lighting.
“It will also see the simplification of the junction at Union Street and Argyle Street.
“While you may experience some disruption during the progression of the works, the scheme when complete will provide a greatly improved streetscape improvement.”
The first phase of the work is already underway with improvements being made on Oswald Street and Midland Street where the footway and carriageway being upgraded together with improved street lighting.
Work has also been carried out at both junctions of Midland Street and Oswald Street with Jamaica Street to help pedestrians and bus stops have been improved.
Roads bosses say the work will be carried out by MacLay Civil Engineering who will work with local residents and businesses to maintain access and servicing as far as practical.
But the letter says: “Due to the nature of the works, it may be necessary to allow additional time for servicing as available loading space will be further away than normal.”
There will be no loading or waiting on both sides of Union Street from the southern kerb of Gordon Street to a point 70m north of the north kerb of Argyle Street.
Strathclyde Partnership for Transport has welcomed the work to provide the new bus link.
A spokesman said: “We are delighted the long awaited improvement works on Union Street and Jamaica Street are now beginning. “
“These works will deliver essential bus priority measures and improve passenger facilities in the city centre.
“We have been co-ordinating with the bus operators to ensure any disruption to travel is kept to a minimum during the improvements.”
City council transport spokeswoman Elaine McDougall said Union Street and Jamaica Street suffered from bus congestion, poor bus stop facilities and limited passenger information.
She added: “The work we are doing will bring major improvements to the movement of buses on the Renfield Street/Union Street corridor and improve the general area for all pedestrians including bus passengers.
“It will also simplify the traffic movements at the Argyle Street/Union Street junction, reducing the potential for accidents.”
Union Street will remain open to traffic while work is being carried out.
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