WORK on improving the Stoneymollan Roundabout is expected to be completed before the Easter holidays.

Scotland TranServ, which is carrying out the work, confirmed re-vamp would be completed ahead of ‘one of the region’s busiest ever tourist seasons’.

The work has seen improvements to the drainage of the roundabout as well as updating the much maligned piece of roadside artwork, the Flying Geese.

The announcement repairs were to cost £115,000 were met with a barrage of negative and angry reactions from the public.

The work was set to create six weeks of delays and disruptions to Dumbarton and the Vale’s busiest road, after starting in January.

TranServ told the Reporter it was on the last leg of work and would complete the final landscaping and restore the geese sculptures to the roundabout following their makeover.

FEATURE Russell Rennie, Scotland TranServ’s contract director, said: “Locally the Stoneymollan Roundabout is known as the ‘Gateway to the Highlands’ and it’s an important feature for visitors to Loch Lomond and the Trossachs.

“It was essential we completed these works before the Easter holidays to minimise any impact on the area.

“Completion of the sculpture, landscaping and minor resurfacing work will take place in order to complete the restoration of the site.” Improvements to the artwork included the birds on the timber crown being infilled and painted white, with seasonal flowers and trees to be planted to complete the project.

The National Park shelled out over £43,000 to cover 41 per cent of the work costs to update and improve the geese, with Transport Scotland covering the remainder of the costs.

James Fraser, Friends of Loch Lomond and The Trossachs chariman, welcomed the work.

He said: “This is clearly the busiest entrance to the National Park and we are delighted that agencies have responded to requests to enhance the main gateway, given its strategic importance.

“The Friends are pleased to be helping fund this project which will strengthen the quality of welcome to the National Park.”