SCOTTISH Water’s delayed works on the A8 in Greenock as part of a major £2.5million flood alleviation project will begin in May. 

A section of carriageway between Douglas Rae Road and Pottery Street will be reduced to one lane in each direction for approximately two weeks starting from May 1.

The works, which were originally scheduled for late February, were postponed while emergency gas pipe works were carried out on the route by gas distribution company SGN.

Traffic measures put in place while the repairs were taking place caused disruption and delays for drivers until the work finished on March 8.

Further improvement works were then commenced by trunk road operator Amey at the signals at Cathcart Street and Brymner Street.

They are expected to last until April 28, with the preparatory work on the anti-flooding scheme starting a few days later.

Water bosses have stated that their aim is to establish the location of utilities and connection points underneath the road ahead of anti-flooding works being carried out on the main carriageway later this year.

Georgina Reid, Scottish Water’s corporate affairs manager in the west said: “These trial holes on the A8 are a vital step towards delivering this much needed project as quickly as possible.

“They will allow us to establish the exact location of utilities and connection points ahead of the main carriageway works being carried out later this year.

“The unexpected delay has unfortunately had a knock-on effect on the project as a whole, but we are pleased to be making good progress elsewhere.”

Scottish Water is building a new Combined Sewer Overflow (CSO) in the grounds of Inverclyde Council’s Pottery Street depot.

Once the CSO is completed, work will move onto the A8 carriageway for approximately five months to divert existing gas and water mains and connect the new CSO to an upgraded local sewer network.

Georgina Reid added: “We are doing all that we can to keep everyone informed, particularly about traffic management on the A8 itself.

“We are confident by giving as much warning as possible and working with stakeholders and partners, the travelling public will be fully prepared.

“The road will remain open at all times, traffic will flow - it just may take a little longer than usual to travel along a short stretch of the carriageway.

“If people plan appropriately, we are confident delays – and any frustrations – will be kept to a minimum.”

Construction of the new CSO began at the start of January.

The project is expected to be completed by the end of the year.