A GLASGOW road is to close for a year as work on the £100million Shieldhall Tunnel gets underway.

A stretch of Queen's Drive and Langside Road in the South Side will be shut to traffic from May 23 for around 12 months so that Scottish Water can carry out the preparatory work.

The tunnel, which will run from Craigton to Queen’s Park, is a major part of the firm's £250m five-year programme of work, launched in 2013 to improve river water quality and tackle flooding.

It is the biggest investment in the Greater Glasgow area’s waste water infrastructure in more than a century.

But the road closure has raised concerns in the community and business owners are worried about the impact it could have.

It is also expected to cause delays for motorists and commuters.

Contractors for Scottish Water will be working on utility diversions and the construction of a new sewer to connect the new tunnel to the existing network in the Queen’s Drive and Langside Road area which will result in lane restrictions for around two months from March 14.

Scottish Water said it needed to close the road at Queen's Drive/Langside Road near the tennis courts from May 23 to progress the works.

Bosses are currently liaising with local transport providers about traffic management and diversions during the closures.

They advised road users to allow extra time for their journeys.

The road traffic management has been organised with Glasgow City Council’s roads department.

Michael Rodgers, 69, who owns a salon in nearby Victoria Road said he had not been given enough information and was concerned about the impact the road closure would have on his business, which he has run for 26 years.

He said: "I had three representatives from Scottish Water come to my salon and they said Queen's Drive would be closed for a year and no buses would be going through it.

"This is going to hit business. We aren't a busy salon as it is so for this to happen it is very concerning.

"We rely on people going by on the bus who spot the salon and then come in.

"I don't think anyone around here knows this is happening."

In a statement Scottish Water said: "We have begun liaising with all affected businesses and residents and will continue to do so. Local businesses will remain open as usual and we will install signage pointing this out to road users and pedestrians.

"We held an information event for affected businesses, customers and residents at Queen’s Park Bowling Club in Langside Road on February 17."

Councillor Mhairi Hunter said she would speak to Scottish Water about the issue and planned to write to the businesses in Victoria Road.

She said: "I think Scottish Water have tried to alert people but it is absolutely essential for businesses to not only know what is happening, but also what support is available and how they can access that.

"I will take that up with Scottish Water to see what else needs to be done to let people know and if they need any extra support."

A commercial team is involved in the Shieldhall Tunnel, known as the Glasgow Tunnel Partnership.

Mark Maclaren, Scottish Water’s community manager for the project, said: “This road traffic management is required in order for us to progress the preparatory work for the Shieldhall Tunnel.

“We will do everything we can to minimise any inconvenience to road users and businesses and can assure them that any short-term traffic disruption will be far outweighed by the long-term benefits our investment will deliver.”