MOTORISTS have ignored warnings to slow down and stick to new speed restrictions on a bridge at the centre of a safety scare.

Police patrols have issued fixed penalty notices to about 20 drivers who have flouted the temporary 30mph limit introduced at the Cander Bridge, near Larkhall, Lanarkshire.

The restrictions were brought in after a detailed inspection by engineers found both parapets needed replaced because of severe corrosion to steel posts.

The drivers caught speeding have been made to pay a fixed penalty of £60, with three penalty points added to their licence.

The bridge takes traffic over Cander Water, on the outskirts of Stonehouse, near Larkhall, and Canderside Toll.

Workmen cordoned off a layby that stretches along one side of the bridge and introduced a steel buffer to protect the other side from vehicles.

Although speed restrictions were introduced at least four weeks ago to force drivers to drop from 60mph to 30mph, it could be at least another eight weeks before work begins and four months before repairs are completed.

A specialist contractor is required to carry out the work and that is believed to be the reason for the lengthy delay.

A South Lanarkshire Council spokesman said: "Both parapets will be replaced, at a cost of about £100,000, and work is programmed to start in the next six to eight weeks.

"All works should be completed within eight to 10 weeks of starting.

"In the interim it has been necessary to introduce additional vehicular containment barriers along the southern (Stonehouse bound) edge of the bridge.

"Further traffic management arrangements will be considered during the repair work. Every effort will be made to keep inconvenience and disruption to a minimum."

There has been a river crossing in the area since the 19th century, but the current bridge opened in April 1966.

gordon.thomson@ eveningtimes.co.uk