The A78 Trunk Road (Greenock) (Prohibition on Use of Road) Order 2024

The Scottish Ministers give notice that they propose to make the above prohibition Order under section 1(1) and 2(1) and (2) of the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984 which will have the effect of imposing a Permanent Lane Closure of Lane 1 on that length of the A78 Greenock – Prestwick Trunk Road being the nearside lane of the northbound carriageway known as High Street, Greenock, from its junction with the Oak Mall goods entrance to a point 30 metres or thereby south west of its junction with the Bullring Roundabout, a distance of 156 metres or thereby.

Full details of the proposal are contained in the Order which, together with a plan showing the length of road involved and a statement of the Scottish Ministers’ reasons for proposing to make the Order, may be examined free of charge during normal business hours from 14th May until 4th June 2024 at the offices of Transport Scotland, George House, 2nd Floor, 36 North Hanover Street, Glasgow, G1 2AD and Inverclyde Council, Municipal Buildings, 24 Clyde Square, Greenock PA15 1LY.

Any person wishing to object to the proposed Order should send details of the grounds for objection in writing to the Director of Roads, c/o Ben Toyer, Transport Scotland, George House, 2nd Floor, 36 North Hanover Street, Glasgow, G1 2AD or via email to TRO-Objections@transport.gov.scot quoting reference SW/A78/BT by 4th June 2024.

A member of the staff of the Scottish Ministers

Transport Scotland
George House
36 North Hanover Street
Glasgow
G1 2AD

Statement of reasons

Statement of The Scottish Ministers Reasons for Promoting a Permanent Lane Closure on the A78 1 High Street Viaduct / Greenock Oak Mall

• The A78 High Street Greenock Viaduct carries the A78 trunk road over the Oak Mall Shopping Centre in Greenock.
• The need for repair to this structure has been identified and, at this time, there is a temporary road order in place restricting access to one of the north bound lanes over the viaduct.
• This lane restriction was imposed to reduce load on the structure until investigations, designs and repairs could be undertaken.
• In early 2023, Inverclyde Council were granted Levelling-Up funds to undertake regeneration of the area around the Oak Mall Shopping Centre.
• Included in this regeneration scheme is the demolition of the Viaduct and the bringing of the existing carriageway to ground level.
• Demolition of the Viaduct is proposed for early 2025.
• Given this forthcoming demolition, it is considered financially prudent to postpone investigations, designs and repair works to the Viaduct whilst continuing to undertake the frequent inspections of the structure to ensure its continual fitness for purpose.
• A permanent lane closure in place of the temporary order is to be implemented which will cover the time period till demolition.