Drivers have been tackling a series of pothole craters on a major Glasgow road for weeks following a 'harsh winter'.
Great Western Road was left significantly damaged near Gartnavel Hospital, causing drivers to 'slow down to a stop' to avoid damaging their cars.
One driver flagged the issue to Glasgow Live, commenting: "Every car on the busy road is being forced into single file and they're slowing down, practically to a stop, so they can get over two large craters in quick succession without losing a tyre.
"Even then, my small car has barely managed it the few times I've had to drive that road this week.
"There are pothole problems all over the city at the minute and I'm sure lots of cars have been damaged, even when they're just out for a once-weekly shop. But this one is the worst I've seen in the city in years - I'm surprised it hasn't caused an accident yet."
@EyeintheskyGla shared pictures of the area on Twitter, commenting: “Take care on Great Western Road, some dangerous potholes water-filled and starting to stretch and deepen.”
Glasgow City Council has said that a 'particularly harsh winter' has badly affected the condition of the city's road network.
And after Glasgow Live flagged the issue on Great Western Road on Thursday, a spokesman for the local authority confirmed that by Friday, extensive pothole repairs were completed on the road between Herschel Street and Whittingehame Drive.
A major resurfacing programme is planned for the eastbound section of Great Western Road between Ascot Avenue and Chesterfield Avenue that is expected to be completed between summer.
A spokesman for the council said: “Winter is usually a particularly challenging time for road maintenance services in Scotland and specifically with road surface condition with rain, snow and ice coupled with low temperatures, have always caused problems with the formation of potholes. However, this winter has been particularly severe with sustained periods of sub-zero temperatures, significant snow and heavy rainfall.
“Glasgow City Council operates a risk-based approach to road repairs to allow us to target our resources more effectively and focus resources on getting repairs right first time without the need for any return visits as this is not an efficient use of budgets. Our policy helps to minimise money spent on often ineffective temporary patches and help divert more resources to getting long-lasting repairs done permanently on one visit
“Our pre-planned response to this situation, the council’s Pothole Recovery Plan is now underway."
Risk assessments are now being carried out on all main roads, covering 47% of the total road network in Glasgow, as they're more prone to pothole problems.
The GCC representative added: "Our front-line teams are working both day and night to ensure the required repairs are being completed as soon as possible. The teams are also working closely with private contractors to deliver a programme of first time permanent repairs that began in early March. As we move forward into spring, road users will begin to see a significant reduction in potholes and improvements to road surfaces in the weeks ahead.
“Despite the difficulties that Covid-19 has presented, during this current financial year which ends on March 31, Neighbourhood, Regeneration & Sustainability will have spent £3million on road resurfacing schemes covering 54 locations around the city, a further £1million undertaking significant patching of roads and £1million on the Pothole Recovery Plan.
“Members of the public are always urged to report any potholes they encounter so they can be risk assessed and included in our programme of road repairs.”
