NEW traffic lights near Barrhead could transform driving to and from the town – but you’ll have to queue for it first.

Drivers have been caught in lengthy delays this week as roadworks opened up at Barrhead Road, Nitshill Road and Hurlet Road and are expected to last for 52 days.

Motorists have been particularly enraged since the work started on Monday with a lack of information. 

Tweets to Glasgow City Council went unanswered and those to Traffic Scotland said the works were nothing to do with them.

But the council confirmed the roadworks will allow a “significant upgrade” that will cut queues at the junction by letting the lights stay green longer, depending on the volume of traffic approaching.

It is also designed to allow buses to move more quickly through the junction, with £300,000 in funding potentially being awarded by councillors tomorrow.

Meanwhile, resident Andrew Young posted to Barrhead News Facebook page: “The traffic lights at the Hurlet have all been removed. 

“Four-way temporary traffic lights are currently in use. All four access routes have also been brought down to a single lane. Nightmare, avoid if possible.”

David Shaw posted to Twitter: “Another day of sitting in a traffic jam at the Hurlet – 18 hours plus to fix a traffic light with huge costs to businesses.What are we paying road tax for?”

Paul Stewart on Twitter wrote: “Honestly, anyone know what is going on at the Hurlet? Got on my bus 25 mins ago and still have not managed to leave Barrhead.”

And Stephen on Twitter said: “And with a time of 1 hour 20 minutes I am clear of the Hurlet, oh wait, Barrhead Road is a minefield of more roadworks.”

One driver wrote: “Getting in and out of my street has been a nightmare the past few days. Drivers have been queued from the Hurlet all the way to as far as St Bernard’s Primary School at rush hour times but even throughout the day it’s been bad.”

A council spokesman said: “The roadworks will allow a significant upgrade of the traffic lights at what is a major junction in the city.

“The main feature of the upgrade will involve the introduction and trial of a responsive traffic-control system called MOVA that aims to reduce queues.

“MOVA, or Microprocessor Optimised Vehicle Actuation, continually adjusts the amount of time each traffic light remains on green, depending on how much traffic is approaching the junction from each direction.

“The indications are that the use of MOVA allows for shorter queues of traffic and fewer delays for all road users.

“But in particular we hope the system will allow buses to move more quickly through the junction, helping to improve the reliability of services.

“Funding for the trial of the new system has come from Transport Scotland’s Public Transport Provision scheme in support of the city’s Low Emission Zone.

“Subject to approval by committee, a £600k award from the fund will be shared between the traffic light upgrades at Hurlet Cross and a similar scheme at the junction of Bearsden Road and Ilay Avenue in the north-west.”

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