I was a little young to remember the construction of the 2nd part of the Expressway, but I’m told there was a great expectation that the stretch from Crossbasket to Auchinarith would significantly reduce traffic coming from Stoneymeadow, then going along Main Street.
What I do know however, is that it was also a phase which hugely went over budget, with some particular issues around where the Auchinraith roundabout and underpasses are now and when construction entered its second year, nearby residents for the best part, weren’t happy.
For tenants in High Blantyre’s Kirkton Avenue for example, life was fast becoming unbearable. People living beside the construction work started telling reporters how they had been ‘sold down the river’ by local Government in what was supposed to happen on the A725 Expressway project.
In Summer 1976 when initial sheet piling was going on, some residents had complaints about the noise and were issued ear defenders to help with the noise. This was when piling was well away from the houses, and in 1977, work started on piling in some cases just 24 feet from the end of gardens.
To help combat the noise, new technology in double glazing was installed in some homes in Summer 1976. It was something all nearby residents were supposed to get, but by February 1977, even in the midst of another cold winter, just 6 homes had received their glazing. Those who received glazing said it made no difference to the noise.
Mrs McIntyre at one end of Kirkton Avenue had her garden flooded by the water running off from the building site. Some residents started putting out sandbags to protect their doors. A deep pool of water had formed in the street and there was certainly no safety precautions to stop children from getting into difficulties.
Further complaint was heard when a residents fence was accidentally knocked down by a passing construction vehicle. Random street closures also caused issues, closing off Kirkton Avenue with only 3 days notice, so quickly that even the Blantyre Police hadn’t been made aware.
The complaints were flying including several to Hamilton District Council, Councillors, Inspector of Health, The Scottish Office, Strathclyde Regional Council.
Councillor Waugh called a public meeting to at least try to appease and inform the public about some of the problems the contractors were experiencing with earthworks and dewatering. Pictured in 1977 is High Blantyre , as the new embankments for the bridge at Douglas Street were built. Today this location is the roundabout at Hillhouse Road, bottom of Sydes Brae.
On Social Media, the following comments were received on Facebook:
Gordon Smith I lived in the cottage down the bottom on Douglas St. I remember studying for my O levels and in the background the constant drone of the machinery. We had the secondary windows fitted at the front and from what I remember there was some sort of air conditioning unit fitted in each room. Thanks for posting the pics, brings back many memories.
Lorraine O’Donnell Mcguire My dad was part of the team for the piling
Mason Kim My nana sarah marshall stayed 166 kirkton Avenue
William Morley The picture shown is not Kirkton Avenue but looking from the Sidesbrae towards what is the Masonic hall and what was the Apollo Bar
DjRen N Stimpy My mother still has a small hammer that was made by one of workers on the site when she lived in kirkton avenue, she was just a child.
William Morley I worked on the houses in the photo what was for the over spill from Glasgow and known to the locals as Jerusalem due to the flat roofs
Margaret Stewart I was the first tenant in 146 kirkton Ave . There was a piece of open land across from me, between where the older houses ended and the start of the flats. My window looked into this land so I had a clear view of the work that was going on . Unfortunately we were plagued with field mice due to this. I was frantic and went to live with my parents till they were gone yes a bit of an over reaction I know.
Agnes Vorsterman We lived in Waverley Terrace from the start (about 1954). My mum hated the field mice and used to stand on a chair if she saw one!
John Queen I was in my early teens staying in the Timber houses when they built the expressway for us kids it was an adventure play park with all the scaffolding for the flyovers and getting chased by the “Watchie”.
Tom McGuigan John Queen my Dad was the Watchman, I’m surprised he never joined in. We got thrown out the public park by the Parkie because he was on the swings with us
James Stirling I’m in forres street and we had double glazing,then the council put in sliding panels to stop the noise from the motorway, IMO best thing they did ,then we got renovated and they took the sliding panels out, I’m used to the noise now.
William Morley Can’t be a 100% positive but I understood that the houses on Kirkton Avenue adjacent to the new expressway had the rear elevation windows only fitted with double glazing or secondary glazing my folks stayed in Kirkton place and had secondary glazing fitted to the front elevation only