Warning to drivers as resurfacing of M9 gets under way

MOTORISTS are to be urged to avoid a key stretch of road for six weekends while major work is carried out on the approaches to the new Forth crossing.

But the team in charge of the project says the work at junction 1a on the M9 near Kirkliston means no more roadworks should be needed there for the next 15 years.

The upgrade of the junction has been under way for several months, including new slip roads, new bridges and the widening of existing bridges.

Now plans are being finalised for extensive resurfacing on both the M9 and the M9 spur, scheduled for six successive weekends from early next month.

Giving evidence to the Scottish Parliament’s infrastructure committee, Lawrence Shackman, Transport Scotland’s project manager for the scheme, said: “We will be advising people if they don’t need to make their journey, please don’t make it at the weekends because it will cause some disruption.

“We will try to provide access through the M9 as far as possible, but because of the way the works need to be done, some sections of the road will need to be closed and diversion routes put in place.

“But the upshot of the works will be that the carriageway should last for a good number of years. There should not be any need to go back in there and do works for 15 years.”

David Climie, Transport Scotland’s project director for the new crossing, told the MSPs the contractor had originally estimated the resurfacing work would take ten weekends.

“Now we’ve got it down to six and we still believe it may be better than that,” he said.

He said the planning of the work had to take account of the needs of both the travelling public and nearby residents.

“We’re very close to Kirkliston and therefore there’s a noise issue. We want to try to minimise that, working at weekends and so on.”