Scottish Water has lifted a road closure on the A78 in Inverkip Street, Greenock, ahead of schedule as the firm continues to upgrade the water mains in the area.

The work is part of a £2.9m Scottish Water project, which will deliver clearer, fresher drinking water to more than 65,000 people and involves the upgrading of more than 27 miles of water mains across Greenock and in Skelmorlie to tackle the problem of discoloured water which has affected some customers in the past.

Work on a section of Inverkip Street, from South Street to Roxburgh Street, has now been completed allowing the road closure to be lifted.


Now, from Tuesday (1 October), contractors George Leslie will continue to work along Inverkip Street to its junction with West Shaw Street. Temporary traffic lights will be in place along the route, with work expected to be completed by Friday 11 October.

Following this phase, the contractors will undertake upgrade work at Drumfrochar Road and Ann Street.

Mark Maclaren, Scottish Water's regional community manager, said: "We are very pleased to have lifted the road closure in Inverkip Street ahead of schedule and we are continuing to make good progress on this project. There is further work to be carried out in Inverkip Street but this will require only temporary traffic lights and not a road closure.

"We are still on course to complete the project by about the end of November, depending on the progress of discussions with the roads department."

Scottish Water's project began in October 2012. It involves the relining of 18 miles of mains, the cleaning and swabbing of about eight miles of mains and the replacement of about one mile of mains.

(JP/CD)