Kellas Road Pothole Reported

Click on image to enlarge

Earlier today, I was alerted to a really deep pothole on the west side of the beginning of Kellas Road close to its junction with Baldovie Road.

This pothole is relatively deep and has sharp sides of exposed tarmac.

I have reported this to the City Engineer and the Roads Maintenance Partnership as well as ringing the Dundee City Council Customer Care Line on 01382 433063 (24/7). I have suggested that this area of the road is at least coned off until a repair can be arranged. I was informed that this pothole had already been reported to the Council by a member of the public and Tayside Police.

My picture shows a car turning left into Kellas Road with its front wheel about to encounter the pot hole.

Improvements to the Pedestrian Underpass at the Gray Street Level Crossing

The temporary closure of the pedestrian underpass at the Gray Street railway crossing in Broughty Ferry began on Monday 9 Jan 2012. 


While this three week closure has been arranged to allow Network Rail to build a new entry point to the down platform for trains towards Dundee, there will also be a bonus for users of the underpass. 

The City Engineer has confirmed that he has arranged what will amount to more than a superficial makeover of the underpass while it is closed.

Following complaints by the Community Council and elected members like me, the City Engineer has confirmed on Saturday that after the building works by Network Rail, he has arranged for a deep clean of all surfaces in the underpass. New roof lighting will also be installed throughout the tunnel. Across the bottom of the tunnel there will be a new full width steel plate walkway. The existing handrails will also be painted. Thereafter it is hoped that a regular clean up of the surfaces in the underpass will undertaken by offenders through the Community Payback scheme. 

I think these are all worthwhile improvements, which residents and visitors will appreciate. I hope this will increase public safety at the level crossing by making the pedestrian underpass more user friendly. Hopefully these improvements will put an end to the underpass as a smelly, ill light and grubby place to be avoided.

Protecting the Seawall - Rapid Council Response

Coned off section of Fisher Street
above breach in the sea wall

On Thursday, I wrote to the City Engineer about a breach in the sea wall in Broughty Ferry, which I had identified after the recent storm force weather. On Saturday, I received thanks for bringing this to the the Council's attention.

I was also relieved to be told that the sea wall from Grassy Beach to Beach Crescent had been inspected on Friday and the immediately affected area had been coned off as a precautionary measure. I have also been informed that permanent repairs are to be carried out commencing on Monday 9 January 2012. Other areas of lesser remedial works to the sea wall will apparently be carried out at the same time.

In relation to the engineering report I had requested, it was reassuring for residents to know that the City Engineer had already instructed an inspection of the full Dundee coastline after the recent storms. Additionally he confirmed that consultants had already been appointed to carry out a study of the Dundee coastline and that the outcome of that study will be reported to a Council Committee.

Well done to the Council for responding promptly and comprehensively.

Quick Fix to Broken Panels on Fort Street Bridge

On Tuesday I noticed that there was a missing and a broken protective panel on the Fort Street bridge.   It looked as though the broken panel had been kicked in. 


I was worried that the absence of these panels might make it possible for someone to climb up the parapet of the bridge. The gaps were also unsightly.


I am relieved to be notified on Thursday that an Engineer had inspected the bridge on Wednesday and has instructed Dundee Contract Services to temporarily board up the damage to the parapet. They will then do a permanent repair and paint the parapet early next year.


A job promptly well done despite the staff of the same department being busy organising winter maintenance on our roads.