A75 Priestholm to Hardrigg Lodge
On behalf of Transport Scotland, Scotland TranServ will carry out a £475k resurfacing scheme on the A75, from Priestholm to Hardrigg Lodge, between Thursday 8th and Friday 16th of June.
The project will bring our total road surface investment in the area between Annan and Gretna, in the last year, to almost £2Million, with similar schemes in planning for the year ahead.
Our works will repair significant structural cracking and potholes on a 600m stretch of the trunk road.
Alan Murray, Scotland TranServ’s Principal Roads Design Engineer said:
“In the last 12 months, we have delivered nearly £2Million of road surface improvements between Annan and Gretna alone. This latest scheme will, like its predecessors, provide tangible, long-term benefits to communities, businesses and tourists using this essential economic route every day.”
In order to complete the project as quickly, efficiently and safely as possible, it will be necessary to implement temporary traffic management throughout the 8-day programme. This will involve:
- Thursday 8th June overnight closure 7pm to 6am
- Friday 9th daytime convoy system 6am to 7pm
- Full weekend closure 7pm Friday 9th to 6am Monday 12th June
- Mon 12th to Thursday 15th full overnight closures 7pm to 6am
It will also be necessary to provide both eastbound and westbound diversions in order keep overnight traffic moving during this programme of works. For further information on diversion routes please CLICK below:
M8 Barrier Replacement Finishes 3 Weeks Early
Scotland TranServ, working on behalf of Transport Scotland, has completed the replacement of 2km of motorway barrier 3 weeks ahead of schedule.
The programme of work, which began on the 23rd of April, was scheduled to last 8 weeks, however the project was completed in just 5 weeks.
Laura Gray, Scotland TranServ’s Deputy Planned Maintenance Manager said:
“The hard work of our project team and favourable weather conditions over the last few weeks has allowed us to complete this programme ahead of schedule. Over the last year, we’ve replaced over 12 kilometres of barrier, delivering long-term benefits to commuters across the central belt.”
The £350,000 M8 safety barrier improvement project is one of a number of such schemes scheduled by Scotland TranServ to deliver long-term benefits to commuters, freight traffic and tourists using one of Scotland’s busiest transport corridors.
Trinity Goes to Holyrood
Pupils from Rutherglen’s Trinity High School are ready to make some noise as they compete in the national final of the Go4Set STEM education programme.
Working with Polmadie-based Scotland TranServ, the second-year pupils designed a sustainable and storm resistant version of their school, winning the regional final in March.
The group will this Friday (2nd June) represent South Lanarkshire at the Grand Final being held in the Scottish Parliament at Holyrood.
Patrice McEntee, Chemistry and Science Teacher at Trinity High School added:
“Our pupils have learned a great deal from these enthusiastic young engineers and environmentalists. They have inspired our group, and that has been seen in the high quality work the team has produced. The whole school community, and everyone at Scotland TranServ is cheering us on, and we’re looking forward to taking our 3D model of a sustainable and storm resistant school to Holyrood to compete against schools from all over Scotland.”
Youngsters from Trinity High School were joined by neighbours at Cathkin High School for the short programme at Scotland TranServ’s main Polmadie depot. They took part in activities ranging from Noise Meter testing to learning all about the activities of our TRISS teams (Trunk Roads Incident Support Service).
A701 Overnight Tree Felling
Scotland TranServ will carry out a series of five emergency overnight road closures on the A701 north of St Ann’s Bridge in order to remove several large trees that could be a risk to local drivers.
Following a detailed inspection of the woodland north of the iconic St Ann’s Bridge, a dozen trees were found to be diseased, or had dead or dying branches.
Michael Pagan, Scotland TranServ’s Network Area Manager for Dumfries & Galloway said:
“Our routine inspection identified that these trees and their branches were posing a risk to motorists using the A701 trunk road. We treat the health and safety of our workers and of drivers with the utmost importance, and so we are prioritising the immediate removal of all affected trees.”
It will be necessary to close the road in order to complete the work as quickly and safely as possible. The felling is programmed to start on Wednesday 31st May, and will be carried out over 5 nights to help keep disruption to local drivers to an absolute minimum.
A signed local diversion route will be in operation:
- Diversion – A709 Dumfries bypass to Lockerbie, then B7076 to re-join A701 South of Beattock
Please follow @trafficscotland on Twitter for regular updates on our roads.
Increased risk of deer collisions
Between May and June each year, the highest number of deer collisions occur across Scotland. It’s thought strikes could be as high as 9000 per year, with as many as 100 humans injured as a result.
The peak time of day for these collisions is early evening until midnight and a lesser occurrence in the early morning from 6 until 9am.
In Scotland at least 40% of these collisions occur on A-class roads. With wild deer populations increasing by 50% over the last 50 years, prevalence in urban areas is also increasing. The number of cars on our roads has also nearly doubled during this time.
Deer can suddenly appear from wooded areas adjacent to trunk roads. It is necessary to report a deer strike to police, regardless of whether you are injured or your car isn’t damaged, the deer could have sustained an injury and may be suffering.
Some useful advice from motoring authorities is:
- Don’t approach an injured deer, as it may be dangerous
- Report all deer collisions to local police as they will contact appropriate authorities
- Use full beams after dark, when no oncoming traffic is around, illuminating deer’s eyes
- Dim lights when approaching a deer so as not to startle it
- Avoid swerving suddenly as a collision with oncoming traffic could result in serious injury
- You should only brake sharply if there is no following traffic
- Drive aware to the situation
M74 Northbound Road Surface Improvements
Scotland TranServ, working on behalf of Transport Scotland has completed essential road surface improvements on the M74 northbound between Junction 12 and the A70.
It was necessary to close this section of the motorway overnight in order to complete the £100k project, addressing issues with potholes and superficial cracks.
Brendan O’Sullivan, Scotland TranServ’s Network Area Manager said:
“This short programme of work will deliver long-term benefits to commuters, freight traffic and tourists heading into the central belt. This essential programme will significantly improve the quality of the road surface. We managed to keep disruption to a minimum by carrying out the work overnight.”
As well as working through the night to carry out this important resurfacing scheme, Scotland TranServ maximised the opportunity by delivering essential cyclic maintenance work in the area at the same time.
The organisation’s Deputy Operations Manager Andy Adam explained:
“Last year we maintained more than 25million m2 of trunk road and motorway verges, we collected over 98 tonnes of rubbish left behind by careless drivers and emptied 26,000 gullies. In order to carry out this work safely, it would have been necessary to have implemented dozens more road closures, were it not for maximising opportunities like this.”
M80 Robroyston Resurfacing
Scotland TranServ, on behalf of Transport Scotland will carry out overnight resurfacing of the M80 Northbound carriageway at Junction 2 between Monday 29th May and Tuesday 6th June.
The £351k project will address potholes and structural cracking on a 1.4 kilometre stretch of the motorway in the Robroyston area.
Rajan Singh, Scotland TranServ Assistant Engineer said:
“This project will help to address issues with potholes and structural cracking on one of Scotland’s busiest commuter routes, connecting communities in East Dunbartonshire, North Lanarkshire, Falkirk and Stirlingshire with Glasgow; this is an important road and to minimise disruption to road users we’re working overnight to deliver tangible
benefits to around 25,000 drivers every day.
“Following consultation with a number of authorities and Police Scotland, the project has been specifically scheduled ahead of the main tourism season, as the M80 is also a main thoroughfare for visitors to Scotland heading for Perthshire and the Highlands from a base in the city, and directly from Glasgow Airport.”
In order to carry out the project as quickly and safely as possible it will be necessary to implement temporary traffic management between 8pm and 6am, each night from Monday 29th May until Tuesday morning 6th of June. A two phased diversion route will be implemented in order to divert traffic around different stages of the resurfacing work.
Road Resurfacing A77 Southbound Kilmarnock Bypass
Scotland TranServ, on behalf of Transport Scotland will begin a programme of resurfacing on the A77 Southbound Kilmarnock Bypass.
Work to rectify potholes and address deeper structural cracking will take place from Friday 19th May until Monday 22nd May. Further to consultation with local authorities and Police Scotland, the project was rescheduled to avoid disruption to those attending the Scottish Grand National in April.
Darren Mitchell, Scotland TranServ’s Assistant Engineer said:
“We are working hard to improve the road surface and structure of the A77, consulting with local authorities, Police Scotland and a number of other agencies as we plan our programme of works, minimising disruption to local communities and businesses.”
The £257k project will see the resurfacing of 1.1km of trunk road, delivering tangible, long-term benefits to local commuters and freight traffic alike. In order to complete the works as quickly and safely as possible, it will be necessary to close this section of the A77 over one weekend, from 8pm on Friday 19th May until 6am on Monday 22nd May.
A75 Barharrow Road Surface Improvements
On behalf of Transport Scotland, Scotland TranServ will resurface a significant stretch of the A75 between Barharrow and Sandgreen from Friday 19th May to Thursday 1st June.
The project to resurface 650m of carriageway completes a scheduled programme of nearly 5 kilometres in the Gatehouse of Fleet area, bringing the total investment locally to around £3.5million.
Alan Murray, Scotland TranServ’s Principal Roads Design Engineer said:
“Over and above this significant £670,000 investment, this project marks the current completion of a multi-million pound improvement programme in this particular stretch of the A75, one of South West Scotland’s longest roads. Scotland TranServ, on behalf of Transport Scotland is delivering tangible, long-term benefits to local communities, businesses and freight traffic using this vital economic route.”
In order to complete the project as quickly and safely as possible, and because of complexities around any potential diversion routes it will be necessary to implement a convoy traffic management system. It will also be necessary to close the A75’s junctions with the B727 and A755, with local diversions in place.
Works will take place from 8pm on Friday 19th May until 6am on Thursday 1st June 2017, with the convoy system operating throughout. Local signed diversions will also be in place.
A77 Raith Burn to Shawhill Road Surface Improvements
Scotland TranServ, on behalf of Transport Scotland, will carry out road surface improvements on the A77 from Raith Burn to Shawhill Farm near Dutch House Roundabout from the 15th to the 18th May.
The £210k project will see the resurfacing of nearly 900m of the A77, addressing existing issues of potholes and structural cracking.
Darren Mitchell, Scotland TranServ’s Roads Engineer said:
“This short works scheme will deliver tangible, long-term benefits to improve the quality of road surface for those using this important route. In using a deeper resurfacing treatment to make sure the road lasts longer, we have to leave it for longer to cool and harden, before it can be safely opened to traffic.”
In order to complete the programme of work as quickly and safely as possible, it will be necessary to implement overnight closures of the road. These closures will therefore take place:
- Each night from 8pm to 6am Mon 15th to Thurs 18th May
- Also, single lane closures from 6am until 8pm Tuesday 16th to Friday 19th May
The additional single lane closures are to allow a deeper resurfacing treatment to cool and harden, ensuring the long-term integrity of this particular section.
The A77 road surface improvement project is one of a number of schemes being scheduled by Scotland TranServ to deliver long-term benefits to commuters, local communities and businesses across the region.
