News Headlines
A96 Keith - Roadworks
Road users are advised that works on the A96 Moss Street, Keith between Dunnyduff Road and Union Street, which began on Monday 21st July are expected to complete on December 12th.
The works represent a £1.6m investment by Transport Scotland, and involve the reconstruction of 650m section of carriageway, renewal of the footways and the installation of a new surface water drainage system.
Two-way temporary traffic signals will operate throughout the works between the hours of 0830hrs and 1900hrs Monday to Friday and 0900 hrs to 1700hrs on Saturdays; no work will take place on Sundays.
Motorists and pedestrians should be aware that the side lanes that connect to Moss Street will be closed at various times. In the interests of safety, some sections of footway will be closed. Residents have been informed of the works and will be kept up to date as the works progress.
To help minimise disruption, the works have been timed to coincide with works to build a new access into the Tesco development at the north end of Moss Street.
South Lanarkshire - M74(N)&(S) J10 Wellburn to J11 Poneil, Major Works from Monday 29th September 2008 for 8 Weeks.
M74(N)&(S) J10-J11 NEAR LESMAHAGOW
MAJOR CARRIAGEWAY WORKS TO REPLACE CONCRETE SURFACE
A £4 million project to reconstruct a critical section of the Southbound M74 from Gleck and Bog Bridge to Junction 11(Poneil) is underway
The project, designed and managed by Amey on behalf of Transport Scotland, is due for completion by the end of November. The work marks the final phase of four carried out since 2006 to replace the well known concrete carriageway. The project was designed in four stages to avoid any lengthy periods of ongoing traffic management on this section of the M74.
Amey will work with Tarmac Construction to rebuild four kilometres of the southbound carriageway. While having possession of the network new communication ducts will be installed along with traffic loops and the re-instatement of road markings.
The speed limit through the works will be restricted to 50mph for roadworks crew and road user safety. This temporary limit will be enforced by SPECS average speed cameras.
TRAFFIC RESTRICTIONS
Traffic will be managed by contraflow on the Northbound carriageway with one lane operating in each direction
The Southbound off slip at Junction 11 will be closed between 29th September and 15th October. The diversion route for this slip closure will take vehicles off at Junction 9 and onto the B7078 past Lesmahagow to Junction 11.
HGVs carrying wide loads will be directed to holding areas at Abington services (Northbound) and Bothwell services (Southbound) where the loads will be assessed and escorted through the works
Colin Mackenzie, unit manager for Amey in south west Scotland said:
“This section of the M74 carries around 32,000 vehicles every day and we are advising all road users to heed the change in speed limit throughout the project.
“This is the final of four phases of work being carried out on this section of the M74. The road has worn over time and to ensure the integrity of the network for years to come it is critical to replace this.”
Amey urge drivers to take a ‘Cone Sense, Common Sense’ approach to roadworks:
Keep to the speed limit, it has been implemented for not just your safety but the workforce’s too – speeding vehicles are a serious threat to staff
Concentrate on the road ahead, not the roadworks
Be alert for roadworks traffic and personnel leaving or entering the safety managed roadworks site
Keep a safe distance – there could be queues in front
Observe all signs – they are there to help you
Get into the correct lane in good time – don’t keep switching
Scottish Borders - A68 Jedburgh. Bridge Works, Station Bridge, Phase 2.
ESSENTIAL BRIDGE WORKS, A68 JEDBURGH, TUESDAY 30th SEPTEMBER - Wednesday 24th DECEMBER
Phase 2 of the bridge works involves the provision of a waterproof coating to the bridge below the road surface which will ensure its continued lifespan for motorists and the public well into the future. A temporary bridge will be installed that will span over one lane of the existing structure which will allow traffic to continue to use the route while the majority of the essential maintenance works are carried out.
A 100 tonne crane will install the temporary bridge overnight on Saturday 8th through to Sunday 9th November. To ensure the safety of the public and to allow the installation of the temporary bridge the road will unfortunately have to be closed to allow this delicate engineering procedure to take place. Signed diversions will be in place while the bridge is closed for this limited period. The main diversion will be via Hawick on the A6088 and A698 to ensure it is appropriate for the heavy lorries which use the trunk road.
The majority of the rest of the works will take place between 08:00hrs and 16:30hrs, although it may be necessary to work until 18:00hrs some evenings. Temporary traffic signals will control the flow of traffic over the newly erected temporary bridge with one lane in operation in alternate directions for the duration of the works.
An alternative route for pedestrians to cross the Jed Water will be provided via the pedestrian footbridge upstream of Station Road Bridge throughout the duration of the works.
Further closures of the bridge will be required to move the temporary bridge over to the other lane of the existing bridge to allow the repairs on the other half of the bridge to be carried out. Towards the end of the programme a closure will also be needed to allow the road surface to be laid over the full width of the bridge. Again, these closures are essential to allow the works to be carried out safely and to ensure the safety of the public. Further details will be provided nearer the time.
Phase 2 of the works is scheduled to last 8½ weeks and is expected to be completed by 24th December 2008.
Some minimal delays are inevitable but they are not expected to be significant and likely to be similar to those experienced during phase one when traffic continued to flow relatively well. Motorists are encouraged to be patient and to pay due attention to the coning and signing as they pass by the works.
The repair works to Station Bridge will be carried out by Castle Construction on behalf of BEAR Scotland and have been planned in consultation with Lothian and Borders Police, Scottish Borders Council and the Jedburgh Community Council.
For further information please follow the link below.
http://www.roadworksscotland.org
Kincardine - New Upper Forth Crossing 'Clackmannanshire Bridge' Now Open to Traffic
NEW UPPER FORTH CROSSING - 'CLACKMANNANSHIRE BRIDGE'
The new multi-million pound Clackmannanshire Bridge, crossing the Upper Forth near Kincardine is now open to all traffic.
New signs with the name 'Clackmannanshire Bridge' have been erected on bridge approaches.
Moray - A96 Nairn to Forres at Brodie. Major Roadworks from Thursday 23rdOctober 2008 for 7 weeks
MAJOR ROADWORKS A96 BRODIE BETWEEN NAIRN AND FORRES
Users of the A96 between Nairn and Forres, to the east of the village of Brodie, are set to benefit from a £1.65m Transport Scotland investment scheme. Works will start on Thursday 23rd October and are expected to last seven weeks.
The programme of road maintenance works, carried out by BEAR Scotland on Transport Scotland’s behalf involves vital re-surfacing of the carriageway that has become worn over time.
For the safety of road works crew and drivers alike, the works will be undertaken using one set of temporary traffic signals during peak hours (06:30hrs to 09:30hrs and 15:00hrs to 19:00hrs) and two sets of signals during off-peak hours.
During certain operations it will be necessary to reduce the speed limit to 10mph to allow traffic to pass through the site safely. At other times a 30mph speed limit will be in place.
To ensure public safety the level crossing in Brodie will be closed from Thursday 30th October until Sunday 7th December. The Tearie / Dyke junction will also be closed for a short period during the work.
Local businesses within the works will remain open for the duration of the works.
David Stafford of Transport Scotland says: “This stretch of road is nearing the end of its useful life and the work is vital to ensure the safety of the carriageway and ensure it continues to operate effectively for years to come.”
Eddie Ross Consultancy Manager for BEAR Scotland added:
“Some disruption is inevitable with a project like this. However we will endeavour to minimise this and keep local residents and motorists advised of progress on a regular basis.”
“We advise drivers to allow extra time for their journey and pay close attention to the temporary traffic management which will change regularly.”
Due to the nature of the works, delays are expected. Motorists are asked to plan their journeys’ accordingly and are urged to show due care and attention while passing the works. Drivers can visit www.trafficscotland.org for real-time traffic information and advice.
The works have been planned in consultation with local businesses, residents, The Moray Council and Grampian Police and are being carried out by Leiths (Scotland) Ltd on behalf of Transport Scotland. Supervision of the scheme will be carried out by BEAR Scotland Ltd.
Highland Region - A9 Kessock Bridge. Painting Works from 4th November 2008 until January 2009
KESSOCK BRIDGE - MAINTENANCE OF CABLE STAYS
Users of the A9 over Kessock Bridge will notice maintenance and painting works on the cable stays during November, December and January. The cables will be accessed by a specially designed cradle, supporting and enclosing the workforce while they clean the cables and apply paint.
This project, which will be managed by Scotland TranServ, will commence in early November.
The work will take approximately 4-5 weeks to complete on each side of the bridge and will require several off-peak nearside lane closures in each direction. The dates of these are variable as they depend upon the progress of work, governed by weather conditions.
For the safety of pedestrians and cyclists, the path and cycle ways beneath the painting works will be closed while painting is in progress. Diversions for pedestrians and cyclists will be clearly signed.
The approximate dates are as follows: Southbound side from 4th November until mid-December, followed by the northbound side from mid-December until mid to end of January.
Motorists should not be unduly affected by these works.
Fife - A92 Redhouse Roundabout, Kirkcaldy. Weekend Surfacing Works starting Saturday 15th November & Saturday 22nd November 2008
£180,000 IMPROVEMENT PACKAGE FOR A92 REDHOUSE ROUNDABOUT, KIRKCALDY
Users of the A92 near Kirkcaldy will benefit from a £180,000 Transport Scotland investment scheme to improve the carriageway surface.
These essential works include resurfacing of a 700m section of the A92 on approach to and exit from the Redhouse Roundabout, together with surfacing of the roundabout itself. The works will be carried out over two weekends starting on Saturday 15th November and Saturday 22nd November.
The works will improve the surface of the road and bring additional safety benefits.
For the safety of road works and road users alike, traffic management measures including contraflow and lane/side road closures will be introduced together with reduced speed limits:
A92 through Redhouse Roundabout - Contraflow at weekends.
A921 closed from Kirkcaldy - 8pm on Saturday 15th November until 6:30am Monday 17th November. Diversion via the B981 and the A92.
B9130 closed from Thornton - 8pm Saturday 22nd November until 06:30am Monday 24th November Diversion via the A92 and the B921.
Overnight lane restrictions will be in place on the A92 between Monday 17th November and Saturday 22nd November.
Drivers are urged plan their journeys in advance and to consider public transport alternatives where available.
As part of our environmental policy, recycling of excavated defacing materials will be undertaken.
The works have been planned in consultation Fife Council and Fife Constabulary.
Dunbartonshire/Renfrewshire - A898 Erskine Bridge, Painting Trials during November and December 2008
A898 ERSKINE BRIDGE PAINTING TRIALS
During late November and early December, painting trials will take place on the Erskine Bridge. Two of the four trials will require traffic management on the bridge. Whilst undertaking these trials, Amey will also take the opportunity to carry out some welding repair works.
The £140,000 project begins on Friday 21st November at 8pm, with one of the trials involving the removal and replacement of a 17m x 2.5m footway panel.
On the weekends beginning Friday 21st November and Friday 5th December, the A898(S) on-slip from the westbound A82 to the Bridge will close and a contraflow will operate with one lane running in each direction across the Bridge. Traffic for the Southbound Erskine Bridge will be diverted via Dunglass Roundabout and return on the eastbound A82 to access the Bridge. The southbound cycle track and footpath will remain closed throughout. During both periods, some off peak lane closures will also take place to allow paint trials and weld repairs to the carriageway and cycle track barriers.
Amey, the operating company planning and managing these works on Transport Scotland’s behalf, will supervise the works and will implement traffic management measures to protect the workforce and commuters using the bridge.
The bridge currently carries 30,000 vehicles a day and is popular with walkers and cyclists.
Colin Anderson, Amey’s designated Erskine Bridge manager said:
“Erskine Bridge is a popular river crossing for drivers to the west of Glasgow but it is also used widely by walkers and cyclists for leisure purposes. The painting trials will provide bridge specialists with valuable information for planning re-painting of the bridge in two years time.
“The work is expected to cause some minor delays and although we have scheduled off-peak and overnight closures to minimise disruption, drivers should leave a little extra time to reach their destinations”
For the safety of drivers and road workers on site the speed limit will reduce to 40mph through the contraflow.
Amey urge drivers to take a ‘Cone Sense, Common Sense’ approach to roadworks:
Keep to the speed limit, it has been implemented for not just your safety but the workforce’s too – speeding vehicles are a serious threat to staff
Concentrate on the road ahead, not the roadworks
Be alert for roadworks traffic and personnel leaving or entering the safety managed roadworks site
Keep a safe distance – there could be queues in front
Observe all signs – they are there to help you
Get into the correct lane in good time – don’t keep switching
Scottish Borders - A7 Langholm and Hawick Improvement Works. Update 20th November 2008
A7 EMBANKMENT PROTECTION WORKS (SEE BELOW FOR 20th NOVEMBER 2008 UPDATE)
The A7, a vital route in south east Scotland, is set to benefit from a £250,000 Transport Scotland investment to repair sections of the sections of the route damaged by inclement weather.
Operating company BEAR Scotland will begin embankment improvement work later this month at two locations in the Borders - the A7 at Mosspaul (ten miles north of Langholm) and Branxholm (three miles south of Hawick). The areas concerned both need strengthened following periods of prolonged heavy rain.
John Murphy, BEAR Scotland South East Network Manager says: “These works are essential to ensure we can mitigate the effects of further inclement weather as far as possible.
“It is our aim to complete these vital works as quickly as possible and we ask drivers to pay careful attention to traffic management arrangements which are put in place to protect road workers and road users alike.”
The first phase of work begins on 17th November at Mosspaul and is expected to last one week. However, this stage involves using a helicopter to access the hillside and is therefore dependent on weather suitable for flying. For the safety of drivers and road workers, two-way temporary traffic lights will be used to manage traffic.
Further works are scheduled to take place on the A7 at Branxholm Park before Christmas, three miles South of Hawick. This initial phase of the project will stabilise the carriageway edge to allow the existing temporary traffic lights to be removed and the trunk road re-opened to two-way traffic.
Sections of the A7 have been identified as being more susceptible to periods of heavy rainfall and these works will help mitigate the possible future effects of such weather.
UPDATE 20th NOVEMBER 2008
Road users are advised that the second phase of A7 embankment improvement works are set to start on Monday 24th November at Branxholm (three miles south of Hawick) and will be ongoing for four weeks.
This phase of the project will stabilise the carriageway edge to allow the existing temporary traffic lights to be removed and allow the trunk road to be fully re-opened to two-way traffic. This will involve the provision of a temporary widening of the road into the verge on the west side of the road and placing a temporary safety barrier along the verge on the east side of the road adjacent to the river.
The final phase of the works, required to stabilise the embankment supporting the A7 trunk road above the River Teviot, will be carried out early next summer following the end of the salmon spawning season. Further detail will be provided in due course.
The first phase of improvement works on the same route at Mosspaul (ten miles north of Langholm) which started on Monday 17th November, have been put on hold. The helicopter which was being used to access the hillside has been re-called by the manufacturer for essential maintenance works. It is anticipated that the works will recommence week beginning Monday 24th November.
John Murphy, BEAR Scotland’s Director for the South East, says: “We appreciate the patience of motorists in dealing with the temporary traffic lights at Branxholm. These have been necessary to ensure the ongoing safety of motorists and site crew.These works will allow them to be removed.
“We expect the Mosspaul project to resume week beginning Monday 24th November as it is essential that these works are completed to mitigate the effects of any further inclement weather as far as possible.”
The works are being carried out at Branxholm by Aggregate Industries and at Mosspaul by the QTS Group on behalf of BEAR Scotland. Motorists are advised to allow extra time to complete their journey whilst the works are ongoing.
North Lanarkshire - M8(E)&(W) J5 Shotts - J6 Newhouse, Major Works from Friday 20th November until Sunday 7th December 2008
Transport Scotland’s improvement strategy for the M8 between Edinburgh and Glasgow continues with a £1million improvement to the Westbound carriageway of the M8 between Duntilland and Newhouse (Junction 6).
From 20th November until early December, the Westbound carriageway will be reconstructed over a 3 km (2 mile) section between Junction 5 (Shotts) and Junction 6 (Newhouse) which is used by almost 60,000 vehicles a day. It is scheduled to last for 17 days.
This follows the completion of the reconstruction of the Eastbound carriageway at the same locus and will ensure that the motorway, which was built in the 1970s, continues to operate safely for years to come.
Stephen Breslin, Transport Scotland’s project manager, said: “These works are part of an ongoing reconstruction programme of the M8 linking Edinburgh and Glasgow. This stretch of motorway is nearing the end of its useful life and this improvement will provide motorists in Scotland with a safe, well maintained motorway fit for increasing traffic volumes. We thank users of the M8 for their understanding and patience as we continue to progress towards the completion of the M8 reconstruction programme.”
“Through this programme of improvements, motorists will benefit from a safe and well maintained motorway fit for the demands imposed by the high volume of traffic travelling between Edinburgh and Glasgow.”
Traffic will be managed using a contraflow system which will maintain two lanes of traffic in both directions during the working day, including the morning and evening peak periods. A reduced speed limit of 40mph will be in place at the works site, for the safety of motorists and the workforce.
It will be necessary to reduce the Westbound carriageway from 20:00hrs to 06:00hrs each night during the works.
The works will also require two weekend closures of the Westbound slip roads at Junction 6. The off-slip will be closed from 20:00hrs on Friday 21st November to 06:00hrs on Monday 24th November. The on-slip will be closed from 20:00hrs on Friday 28th November to 06.00hrs on Monday 1st December. Locally signed diversions will be in place for the duration of these slip closures.
Due to lane restrictions, abnormal load vehicles over 3m in width travelling on the Westbound carriageway will be diverted off the M8 at Junction 5 Shotts and along the B7066 to rejoin the A8 at Eurocentral.
The reconstruction works have been carefully planned, timed and designed in consultation with North Lanarkshire Council and Strathclyde Police to minimise the impact on the travelling public. Some delays however, are unavoidable due to the volume of traffic on this route.
This section of works will be carried out by Tarmac on behalf of Transport Scotland. BEAR Scotland has designed and is supervising the scheme.
Ayrshire - A77 Bellfield Interchange to Dutchhouse Roundabout. Overnight Closures from Monday 24th November to Friday 28th November
SOUTHBOUND A77 AT BELLFIELD INTERCHANGE, KILMARNOCK
Overnight patching works will take place at Bellfield Interchange for four nights from Monday 24th November. The £120,000 project will run until Friday 28th November. The works, associated traffic restrictions and closures will be in place each night between 8pm and 6am.
Amey, who manage the A77 on behalf of Transport Scotland say this section of the A77 at Kilmarnock was opened in 1973 and the Northbound carriageway was fully reconstructed during the Summer of 2007.
The work will be carried out under full closure of the Southbound carriageway between Bellfield Interchange, Kilmarnock, to Dutchhouse Roundabout. A diversion will be in place during the closures via the A71 and A78, returning to the A77 at Dutchhouse Roundabout.
Mike Robin, network area manager for Amey in south west Scotland explained:
“Recent investigations carried out on this section have confirmed that the existing road surface has reached the end of its lifespan and patching work is now required.
“We have consulted with Strathclyde Police, North Ayrshire Council and East Ayrshire Council to determine the most effective time to carry out this work. The A77 is one of Scotland’s busiest roads, with commuters travelling to Stranraer to reach the Stenna and P&O ferry terminals. We would therefore ask drivers to leave extra time to negotiate the diversion route while the road is closed during these four nights.”
For more information about the A77 visit:
www.a77safetygroup.co.uk
Tayside - A90 North of Dundee, Powrie Brae to Inveraldie. Major Resurfacing Works, Wednesday 19th November to Saturday 13th December 2008
ESSENTIAL RESURFACING WORKS A90 NORTH OF DUNDEE
£1.4 million road resurfacing works are to be undertaken on the A90 North of Dundee between Emmock Roundabout and Inveraldie, between Wednesday 19th November Saturday 13th December weather permitting.
The works are part of Transport Scotland’s ongoing investment in the trunk road network and will extend the life of the road and assist the safety of road users.
Works will be undertaken between North Powrie Farm and Inveraldie on the Northbound carriageway and from Inveraldie to Emmock Roundabout on the Southbound carriageway.
Keith Murray, Transport Scotland Project Manager says: “These works are part of an ongoing investment programme on the A90. We are committed to improving road safety across Scotland and the continued investments will demonstrate real benefits for users on the A90.”
Information signs will be used in advance and during the works to inform motorists of changes to the traffic management as the works progress. A 40 mph speed limit will be in place throughout the works.
During the works, some delays to motorists are inevitable. Motorists should allow extra time for journeys or consider using an alternative route.
The works will be carried out by Ennstone Thistle on behalf of Transport Scotland. The works have been organised in consultation with Angus and Dundee City Councils and Tayside Police. BEAR Scotland will supervise the works.
Ayrshire - A78 Fairlie by Largs. One Day Total Closure, Sunday 30th November 2008
A78 FAIRLIE - ONE DAY TOTAL ROAD CLOSURE AND DIVERSION, SUNDAY 30th NOVEMBER
Main Road in Fairlie will undergo one day of patching works on Sunday 30th November. The £15,000 investment from Transport Scotland will allow Amey to undertake essential maintenance near the town’s traffic lights.
The work will be carried out during daytime hours on the Sunday to minimise disruption as much as possible to Fairlie village. Local traffic will be able to travel within the Fairlie area, however A78 traffic in both directions will be diverted via Dalry. Northbound traffic will leave the A78 at West Kilbride for Dalry to rejoin the A78 at Largs. Southbound traffic will leave the A78 at Largs for Dalry to rejoin the A78 at West Kilbride.
The diversion route in both cases is approximately 10 miles and road users should consider their journey plans carefully.
Work will begin at 7am on Sunday morning and reach completion by 6pm on Sunday evening. Approximately 150m of patching will be carried out throughout the day.
During works planning, Amey looked at a number of traffic management options. However, due to the narrowness of the road at this section within the town it is not possible to undertake the works using temporary traffic lights or a convoy system. It is therefore necessary to divert traffic in both directions via Dalry.
Mike Robin, Amey’s network area manager south west explains:
"We understand the intricate nature of the road network within Fairlie and have taken this into account when considering the timing for the patching work to take place. As the A78 is a main tourist route we have scheduled the work to take place outwith the Summer season."
"We have considered all options, but regrettably there is no alternative other than to close the road as it is so narrow at the location of the works. With this in mind we have limited the works to one Sunday only in an attempt to do everything possible to minimise the impact of the closure."
"Travellers intending to use this route on the Sunday should plan their journey carefully to reach their destination on time."
Amey has liaised closely with Strathclyde Police and North Ayrshire Council to determine the timing of the work and have briefed Fairlie Community Council on the nature of the works.
High winds - A87 Skye Bridge
All lanes restricted in both directions
more details
Breakdown - A720 Hermiston Gait - Calder Jct
1 lane closed Eastbound for up to 30 minutes
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