THE Clyde Tunnel is in need of “major open heart surgery” if it is to last the next ten years.

These were the claims of a councillor as it was revealed Glasgow City Council’s latest request for the Scottish Government to adopt the stretch of road was denied.

A letter drafted by the leader of the council was sent to Humza Yousaf in October last year.

It requested that Transport Scotland take ownership and maintenance responsibility for the tunnel and its approaches.

The letter said: “Whilst the city council maintains its opinion that these assets are of strategic importance to Scotland’s economy, if Glasgow City Council is to continue to operate them safely, an improved funding package which reflects the true and extraordinary cost of doing so is required.”

The letter asked for a review in the grant aided expenditure funding allocation for the bridge is currently the same as any other stretch of road of similar distance across the country.

However, replying to Mr McAveety in January this year, transport minister Humza Yousaf said he recognised the importance of the road and has asked Transport Scotland to keep working closely with the council in the management of local and trunk roads in the area.

He did not agree to council leader’s request.

Last year, the Evening Times revealed that Scotland’s busiest trunk road requires an investment of £25million to fund essential repairs.

It was also estimated, in a sustainability and environment policy committee, that the annual grant funding to keep the bridge running from the Scottish Government should be increased to £950,000.

More than ten times the amount the road has been allocated for maintenance and repair costs - currently at £88,000.

Previous attempts for more money and asking the government take the cost of the road’s upkeep, which is paid for through council tax, have been met with resistance, the last attempt being back in 2011.

Frank McAveety, the leader of the council, said: “We have repeatedly raised concerns about the Clyde Tunnel.

“Along with the Kingston and Forth Road Bridges, the tunnel is one of the country’s busiest river crossings, supporting more than 65,000 journeys every day – but, unlike the other two, the government isn’t willing to meet the price.

“The tunnel will require around £25 million in essential investment in the near future, over-and-above the £1 million Glasgow taxpayers already spend every year on routine maintenance.

“It is nothing short of outrageous that the cabinet secretary demands that ordinary Glaswegians foot that bill for the rest of the country – even after suffering £130m of budget cuts, which he was happy impose.

“All we are asking for is a fair deal for Glasgow.”

Alistair Watson, whose ward covers the route, said: “The tunnel is in need of major open heart surgery if it is to remain in use at all.

“The Clyde tunnel connects the M8 and is used to get to the largest hospital in Europe [the Queen Elizabeth].

A Scottish Government spokesperson said: “Glasgow City Council has responsibility for improving, maintaining and repairing the Clyde Tunnel.

“It is for the Council to determine on the basis of local needs and priorities what it should allocate to the Clyde Tunnel from its total financial resources, with the council receiving nearly £1.35 billion through the local government settlement for the current financial year.

“The council has also received an overall increase in spending power in 2017-18 to support local authority services, amounting to over £45 million, or 3.4 per cent.

“We continue to work closely with the council in planning for resilience, events and maintenance relating to either the local or trunk roads around this key part of the road network.”