Extension to 30mph on Dundee Road From Wednesday 22 January

I have been advised that from Wednesday 22 January 2014 the section of Dundee Road, between Margaret Crescent/Broughty Ferry Road junction to Ellieslea Road junction will have a reduced speed limit from 40 mph to 30 mph. 

'New 30 MPH Speed Limit In Force' signs will be erected to warn drivers about the new 30 mph section of Dundee Road.

Were Junction Improvements on Broughty Ferry Road a Good Investment?

Drivers heading from The Ferry to the Dundee City centre must wonder for whom the new right turn on Broughty Ferry Road was introduced?

This new turn with filter traffic lights leads onto Greendykes Road leading up to the Kingsway at the 'Scott-Fyffe' roundabout. It seems it's a junction where few drivers travelling west choose to use the new opportunity to turn right at the lights.

It wouldn't be such an issue if the bill for the junction 'upgrading' had not been so substantial. The upgrading of the road and junction was part of a £2+ million contract to upgrade the bridge into the docks at the Stannergate and improve links to the Kingsway for new green energy manufacturing. This was approved, with rather scant detail, at the City Development Committtee on 27 June 2011.

Significantly, when wind turbines were recently landed at Dundee Port and transportation arranged to Aberdeenshire, new direct lanes were engineered straight through the middle of the Stannergate roundabout for the articulated trucks to go directly up Strips of Craigie Drive. So much for the new enhanced junction on Broughty Ferry Road; it's dog leg corner which would clearly defeat lesser loads negotiating the corner.

I now have doubts about whether this part of the contract was a wise investment of public funds.

Halley's Mill Planning Application Approved

Halley's Mill from Broughty Ferry Road October 2012
Click on Image to Enlarge

William Halley's Mill and the associated site was the subject of a planning application that was approved at the Council's Development Management Committee last night.

It's a prominent building on Broughty Ferry Road and has long lain empty awaiting an alternative use.

During the meeting, I asked the Director of City Development about the potential reuse of the stone on site from the demolition of the former office building. I thought that this might be used as facing stone on the vertical extension of the Category 'B' listed old Mill Building to accommodate an additional floor. I was informed that this would be borne in mind by Council Planners when they deal with the forthcoming Listed Building consent.