Reinstatement of M8 gantry 04-010 rescheduled
Unfortunately due to the weather forecast of high winds for Friday and Saturday, it will be necessary to reschedule the gantry replacement works scheduled to take place on the M8 between Junction 15 & 14 East Bound this weekend.
The work was to include the closure of a number of access roads in the Charing Cross area of the city, which will not now go ahead. Work has been rescheduled for the 3rd and 4th of March.
M74 Junction 8 Swinhill SB on-slip works postponed
Unfortunately due to the weather forecast of prolonged heavy rain for Friday and Saturday, the works scheduled to take place on the M74 Junction 8 Swinhill south bound on-slip this weekend have been postponed until further notice.
Advanced notification and revised construction date will be issued in due course when works are due to be rescheduled.
For all traffic updates on South West Scotland’s roads, please visit the Traffic Scotland website, or follow them on Twitter: @trafficscotland
Icy conditions for SW Scotland’s roads
With freezing temperatures forecast for South West Scotland’s roads, Scotland TranServ will be maintaining a strong presence across our network.
We’ll have 29 spreaders treating and patrolling the 600km network that stretches from Loch Lomond down to Stranraer, maintaining the region’s major trunk road and motorway network.
In addition our innovative support vehicles, the UNIMOGs will be on hand to provide extra assistance where necessary.
Andrew Adam, Scotland TranServ’s Winter Service Manager added:
“It’s already been a busy day, with our teams working throughout the day ensuring the roads are kept clear; we provided mutual aid in deploying our UNIMOG vehicle to assist our counterparts clearing the M80.
“We’re expecting icy conditions overnight, with our 24/7 Control Centre and our overnight crews keeping a close eye on roads across the region as we head into the busy Friday morning rush hour. Again we would advise drivers to check Traffic Scotland’s website and social media channels for the latest news on Scotland’s roads.”
Updates are available on the Traffic Scotland website: trafficscotland.org or by following them on Twitter @trafficscotland.
Continuing action
Scotland TranServ will maintain a strong presence on South West Scotland’s roads overnight with 29 spreaders treating and patrolling the 600km long network throughout the region.
Rain and melting snow have created issues with surface water on the motorway and trunk road network, and motorists are being advised to drive with caution.
This too is likely to cause challenges with freezing temperatures forecast across Scotland this evening and overnight, with ice warnings issued.
Andrew Adam, Scotland TranServ’s Winter Service Manager said:
“Just as you would expect in Scotland, no two days ever provide the same weather. That’s why we need to remain alert to all eventualities. Working with Transport Scotland and our counterparts across the country we continually monitor forecasts, and utilise the knowledge and experience within our teams. We also use innovative new treatment methods and support vehicles to back up our joint efforts.”
For the latest updates on Scotland’s roads, please visit the Traffic Scotland website: trafficscotland.org or follow them on Twitter @trafficscotland
A salt on wintry roads
ScotlandTranServ, in conjunction with Transport Scotland, continue to look at innovative ways to deliver winter service in the South West of Scotland.
Winter service on the Scottish Trunk Road network currently utilises a pre-wet operation which is 70% dry salt mixed with 30% brine solution. This winter we are trialling a full wet operation on one of our routes covering the A77 between Ayr and Kilmarnock, where the carriageway is fully treated with brine alone.
A brine solution of 23% concentration is applied directly onto the road surface by spraying and no dry salt is applied. Brine lowers the freezing point temperature of the solution, sticks to the carriageway surface and creates a barrier layer that will stop ice from forming and snow adhering to and accumulating on the road surface.
The full wet treatment is carried out using one our 32ton trucks which has tanks fitted to the body of the vehicle. These tanks have the capacity to carry 12,000 litres of brine solution, which is applied to the carriageway through spray bars fitted to the rear of the vehicle. The spread rate and width is controlled through a control box fitted in the cab, allowing the driver to increase or reduce the spread width and control where the solution is applied to the carriageway.
These treatments also have environmental benefits by better controlling spread onto the carriageway and preventing over spreading or salt blow off by wind onto verges or adjacent land. Spreading less salt will also reduce corrosion to roadside infrastructure and vehicles using the road network.
Full wet winter service is currently being used in Europe and Ireland and has a proven record of being successful when pre-treating carriageways and keeping them free from ice and snow. We trialled full wet on part of our route between the A77 Dutchouse Roundabout and Symington over our winter 2015/16 season which was successful and this trial is now expanding into a full route trial of full wet treatment.
Lending a hand
During the day, Scotland TranServ has 15 spreaders out on routes across South West Scotland. A number of additional support vehicles are also out on the network providing back up.
Among those lending a hand is our UNIMOG (pictured right), which was dispatched this morning to help out our counterparts at BEAR Scotland with extreme weather conditions on the M80.
This is one of our mobile vehicles that is dispatched to tackle more challenging situations such as this on our network, stretching from Stranraer to Loch Lomond.
Please check the latest travel information, available on the Traffic Scotland website: trafficscotland.org
or by following them on Twitter: @trafficscotland
Keeping SW Scotland moving
With extreme weather across South West Scotland, Scotland TranServ deployed 22 gritters overnight.
Working on behalf of Transport Scotland, and alongside our counterparts across the country, our teams have been working throughout the night and will remain out on our network to ensure the roads remain clear, we are also providing support where required.
Andrew Adam, Scotland TranServ’s Winter Service Manager said:
“This is a team effort. We’re working with Transport Scotland and our counterparts across the country to ensure that we keep the trunk road network moving. We also rely on motorists to play their part and make the right driving decisions.”
Please check the latest travel information, available on the Traffic Scotland website: trafficscotland.org
or by following them on Twitter: @trafficscotland
Get Set, Go4Set
Scotland TranServ is turning up the volume on its Go4Set programme, supporting two local schools in the delivery of a season of engineering and environment education.
Youngsters from Trinity High School and Cathkin High School took part in activities ranging from Noise Meter testing to learning all about the activities of our TRISS teams (Trunk Roads Incident Support Service).
The S2 pupils have been working with a group of young Scotland TranServ engineers since November, learning all about their roles and day-to-day activities as part of the Go4Set programme.
Kirsty McConnell, Scotland TranServ’s Graduate Environmental Specialist said:
“Go4Set is a great way for young people to learn about potential careers in science, the environment, engineering and technology, while having fun. We hope that they get as much out of these fields as we did, and that perhaps they too are inspired to one-day follow a similar career path.”
For more information on Go4Set, please visit their website: www.etrust.org.uk
Essential Resurfacing for M74 South
Scotland TranServ, on behalf of Transport Scotland, will deliver a short programme of overnight improvements to one of Scotland’s main economic routes.
The trunk road and motorway management company intends carrying out the road surface improvement project between Junction 8 and Junction 10 of the M74 southbound.
Scotland TranServ’s Principal Designer for the project, Alan Murray said:
“This short programme of works will deliver tangible benefits to one of Scotland’s main arteries south. We have taken into consideration all nearby works, and decided to carry out this essential resurfacing works during the period of lowest traffic volume. It will deliver long term benefits in the quality of journey, to those commuters, freight traffic and tourists heading south for many years to come.”
The £117,000 project will see around 400m of improvements to the M74 southbound on the junction 8 slip road and a lane of the motorway’s southbound carriageway.
To deliver the essential improvements it will be necessary to close the slip road and inside lane of the motorway from 8pm on Friday 24th February until 6am on Sunday 26th.
In order to keep potential disruption to an absolute minimum and provide a safe working environment for our engineers it will also be necessary to close the motorway while carrying out work on the inside lane between these junctions. Works therefore will take place:
- Saturday 25th February 00:01 to 04:00, and
- Sunday 26th February 00:01 to 04:00
Diversions will be in place along the B7078, Carlisle Road through Kirkmuirhill during these Saturday and Sunday overnight periods. The Northbound section of motorway will be unaffected during this time.
Motorists can keep up to date with real time traffic information by following @trafficscotland on Twitter or visiting www.trafficscotland.org.
Improvement works on A77 Drummellan Farm to Smithston
Road users are set to benefit from improvement works on A77 Drummellan Farm to Smithston (located between Maybole and the B742).
Scotland TranServ, on behalf of Transport Scotland, will carry out resurfacing and lining works on the A77 between Drummellan Farm and Smithston. The works will start at 20:00 on Friday 17th February 2017 and finish 06:00 on Monday 20th February 2017. During this time both carriageways will be closed, with a diversion route in place.
The signed diversion route will divert vehicles onto the A719 at Turnberry, Dunure Road, Greenfield Avenue, B7024 Alloway, Murdochs Loan, Doonholm Road, before rejoining the A77.
Operating company representative for Scotland TranServ, Andy Fraser said:
“The resurfacing works are essential for the safety of road users in the area. The full weekend closure will allow the works to take place safely and continuously.”
Motorists can keep up to date with real time traffic information by following @trafficscotland on Twitter or visiting www.trafficscotland.org.
