New line in road markings
As part of ongoing works on the A75 to mitigate accidents involving HGVs and speeding vehicles, work has started to introduce new road markings near the Vehicle Activated Signs installed in March 2017.
For the first time on a SW Trunk Road, ribbed edge lines will be installed on a single carriageway road, as well as utilising a new road marking type (EURO Dot) in the centre lines. Both of these markings provide a physical and audible warning to drivers in the event they cross the marking.
This work is intended to reduce the instance of vehicles leaving the carriageway or crossing into the opposing lane at these locations, as from our investigations this accident type has been found to be above the national average.
They will also help with drivers who having been on a long journey and may need reminding of the
road edge.
Building Bridges: Routes into Engineering
Scotland TranServ is hoping to inspire 40 teenagers from Cathkin and Trinity High Schools into careers in Civil Engineering.
International Women in Engineering Day took place on Friday (23rd June 2017), celebrating the part that women play and their achievements working across all engineering disciplines.
Event organiser, Scotland TranServ’s Management Systems Manager Fiona Forster said:
“Glasgow and the West of Scotland once, not so long ago, had a proud engineering tradition. That is something that has evolved in recent decades. Our event gave these teenage girls, about to make decisions on future professions, the opportunity to hear for themselves the rich career paths of many inspiring women from across the civil engineering realm.
“We’re asking relatives, friends and teachers to encourage these young women to consider careers in engineering, and enjoy all the lifelong benefits that will bring.”
The programme was one of only a handful of such events held in Scotland, bringing schools, universities and industry together, with civil engineering giants Mouchel Consulting and Balfour Beatty also taking part.
The event also brought together local universities and colleges, with the University of the West of Scotland providing insight into cutting edge construction methods and modelling.
Lecturer in Materials and Manufacturing Processes, Dr Patricia Munoz-Escalona said:
“UWS is committed to developing and encouraging the best talent in science, engineering, technology and mathematics and I was delighted to participate in this event. It is vital that we inspire the next generation of female engineers and events such as this have a hugely important role to play.”
As well as listening to the insights from inspiring women in engineering, the S3 pupils also took part in spaghetti bridge building and cardboard road making activity, with the pasta structures tested to destruction.
The programme was one of a series of such events being held across the country to mark International Women in Engineering Day (INWED) on Friday 23rd June.
A82 Dumbarton overnight resurfacing
Scotland TranServ, on behalf of Transport Scotland will carry out overnight road resurfacing on the A82 Strowan’s Road to Garshake Road, Dumbarton between 8pm and 6am each night from Tuesday 27th June to Sunday 2nd July.
The £120k project will address structural cracking and potholes on 750m of carriageway, delivering tangible, long-term improvements for communities, businesses and tourists using this main route between the Central Belt and Loch Lomond.
Brendan O’Sullivan, Scotland TranServ’s Network Area Manager said:
“This is an important route, not only for the Dumbarton communities living adjacent to it, but for the thousands of commuters, businesses and tourists who use the A82 on their way to Lock Lomond, Argyll and even the Highlands. Therefore, in order to minimise the impact of the project on the local community, we’ll be working through the night.”
The health and safety of our workers and of drivers is of the utmost importance to Scotland TranServ. Working overnight will allow to complete this project as quickly, efficiently and safely as possible. Traffic speeds through the road works will be controlled by a convoy system, with emergency service vehicles escorted as a priority.
The convoy system will therefore operate:
- Each night from 8pm until 6am the following morning, from Tuesday 27th June until Sunday 2nd July, 2017.
Working on behalf of Transport Scotland, this A82 road surface improvement programme is one of a number of such schemes being scheduled by Scotland TranServ to deliver tangible, long-term benefits to commuters, communities and businesses throughout Dumbarton and beyond.
A76 near Skerrington Roundabout resurfacing
Scotland TranServ, on behalf of Transport Scotland will carry out resurfacing of the A76 near Skerrington Roundabout, Cumnock from Friday 23rd until Tuesday 27th June.
The £382k project will use the innovative crack and seat method to repair around 600m of the trunk road, addressing potholes and structural cracking.
Lee Donnelly, Scotland TranServ’s Project Manager said:
“The A76 is an important economic artery, connecting many communities and businesses across Ayrshire. Using the crack and seat method we can reduce disruption, completing the project quicker, safer and more efficiently, with minimal waste. This method will remove the need for the extensive toing and froing of
construction traffic, with 40 less lorry journeys.”
Scotland TranServ has used the crack and seat method extensively on projects across South West Scotland. The method has been used in particular to repair sections of the A75 through Dumfries and Galloway. On one project alone, Layby to Cardoness Castle, we saved enough lorry miles to stretch from Glasgow to Sydney.
In order to complete the project in the quickest possible time, reducing disruption to the local community we have worked in consultation with Police Scotland and the Local Authority to schedule a programme of traffic management. Local diversions are in place:
- Friday 23rd June at 8:00pm to Monday 26th June at 6:00am under a total road closure. Working 24 hours a day.
- Monday 26th June there will be daytime convoy from 6:00am to 8:00pm.
- Monday 26th June, night time closure from 8:00pm to 6:00am
- Tuesday 27th June, Day time convoy from 6:00am to 8:00pm
Working on behalf of Transport Scotland, this A76 road surface improvement programme is one of a number of such schemes being scheduled by Scotland TranServ to deliver tangible, long-term benefits to commuters, communities and businesses throughout Ayrshire.
Scotland TranServ scoops prestigious CIHT Award
Scotland TranServ scooped the Inclusive Transportation Award at the CIHT Awards in London last night (Thursday 15th June).
The trunk road and motorway management company, in partnership with Transport Scotland and Neatebox lifted the prize for the installation of the innovative crossing app at various sites in Largs.
The company also narrowly missed out at the Scottish Transport Awards being held at the Radisson Hotel in Glasgow.
Scotland TranServ was nominated there in two categories, for the Moving Cursor
programme and again the Neatebox crossing app.
The innovative Neatebox Bluetooth technology has been implemented on a number of pedestrian crossings in the Ayrshire town. The smart phone app allows people with visual and physical impairment to more easily activate crossings.
Sometimes crossing control buttons can be located in inaccessible places, making activation difficult or even risky.
Vincent Tait, Scotland TranServ’s Road Safety Team Leader said:
“Being nominated alone for such a prestigious award is further testament to the Neatebox technology we have installed in Largs crossings. This is a wonderful innovation that levels the playing field for those with visual and physical impairment. We look forward to its further application on new crossings across South West Scotland and the benefits that delivers for communities across the region.”
A75 Road Surface Improvements
Scotland TranServ, working on behalf of Transport Scotland, will carry out road resurfacing works between the A75/A711 Kirkcudbright junction and Barncrosh from Friday 23rd to Wednesday 28th June.
The £340k project will repair potholes and structural cracking on a 700m section of the A75, delivering tangible, long-term improvements for communities and businesses adjacent to this main route through Dumfries and Galloway.
Rajan Singh, Scotland TranServ’s Project Manager for the scheme said:
“We realise that this is an important economic artery for South West Scotland, and that is why we’re making every effort to reduce disruption as much as possible. Work will take place at the weekend and overnight in order to minimise the impact on the local community and businesses.”
The health and safety of our workers and of drivers is of the utmost importance to Scotland TranServ, and that is why it will be necessary to implement a full weekend closure followed by midweek overnight closures in order to carry out this project as quickly, efficiently and safely as possible. All traffic will be diverted along the A711 and A762.
The A75 road closures include:
- 7pm Friday 23rd June to 6am Monday 26th June, continuous 24 hours
- Further two overnight closures will be implemented on Monday 26th June and Tuesday 27th June between 7pm to 6am respectively
A three-way traffic signal system will be implemented at the junction with Tongland bridge (A711/A762) in order to control large vehicle turning movements.
This A75 road surface improvement programme is one of a number of such schemes being scheduled by Scotland TranServ to deliver long-term benefits to commuters, local communities and businesses across South West Scotland on behalf of Transport Scotland
Warrix Bridge Works Rescheduled
Scotland TranServ, in consultation with Police Scotland and the Local Authority, will reschedule bridge waterproofing & resurfacing works for the A78 460 Underpass N0 3 at Warrix Interchange near Irvine.
The project is expected to take 4 weeks to allow for improvement on the vehicle restraint, waterproofing and the drainage system on the North & South bound carriageway near to Warrix interchange.
Works were due to start on Monday 12th of June. However, due to the proximity of the scheme to the forthcoming Scottish Open Golf tournament, a decision has been made to reschedule the project.
The programme will now take place in the late summer/early autumn to deliver these tangible road surface improvements for local
commuters and freight traffic.
M8 Eastbound Junction 15-14 Overnight Resurfacing
Next week essential resurfacing work will be undertaken on the M8 Eastbound Junction 15 to 14 by Scotland TranServ, on behalf of Transport Scotland.
A programme of overnight works, designed to address structural cracking and potholes, will take place each night from Wednesday the 14th until the early morning of Tuesday the 20th of June. The project has been scheduled to run overnight only, in order to minimise disruption as much as possible.
Darren Mitchell, Scotland TranServ’s Project Manager on the scheme said:
“The M8 is one of Scotland’s busiest motorways and that’s why it is important that we deliver this essential programme of tangible, long-term benefits. Working overnight will allow us to deliver this project with minimal disruption. We always have the safety of our workers and motorists foremost in mind.”
Only once the motorway is sufficiently quiet will we install traffic management to begin our programme of overnight resurfacing work. Diversions will be lifted, and the road returned to normal operation by 6am each morning. The M8 Westbound will be unaffected throughout this time.
New Pedestrian Crossing for Locharbriggs Nursery
Scotland TranServ, on behalf of Transport Scotland will begin construction of a new pedestrian crossing for Locharbriggs Village, outside Dumfries.
Following extensive consultation with the local community and elected members, construction will begin on the innovative new A701 crossing from Monday 12th June, and last for two weeks.
Vincent Tait, Scotland TranServ’s Strategic Road Safety Manager said:
“We’ve been in discussions with the local nursery school throughout the development of this innovative new crossing. It will shortly incorporate specialist Neatebox technology, allowing staff to operate the lights using a smart phone app, which will come in useful for busy teachers with lots of children on their
hands.”
Work to install the new crossing will begin at 9.30am and last until 3.30pm each weekday, operating outside peak periods in order to minimise disruption to local commuters and businesses.
Resurfacing work will take place on Sunday 18th of June, during which time traffic will operate under a convoy management system. Closure of the Quarry Road junction will be necessary at these times, with local signed diversions in place. High Friction surfacing will be added during the weekdays that follow.
The crossing will be only the second on a Scottish trunk road to operate under the Bluetooth, Remote Lamp Control System (RLCS). Locharbriggs will also be only the second Scottish community to receive Neatebox technology on a trunk road crossing.
Walkers advised of A701 bridge improvements
Scotland TranServ is advising ramblers and anglers using the Southern Upland Way/Annandale Way that it will be necessary to close a short section of the route near Beattock.
On behalf of Transport Scotland, Scotland TranServ will replace a total of 20 concrete cope panels on the A701 bridge which spans the Southern Upland Way/Annandale Way and Evan Water from Monday 12th of June until Thursday 15th June, 2017. The trunk road however, will remain open throughout the works.
Frank Quither, Scotland TranServ’s Project Manager said:
“Inspections of the structure revealed some deterioration to these cope panels located above the Southern Upland Way/Annandale Way Footpath. If unattended this deterioration could present a potential hazard to walkers and anglers using this section of the route. Our works will deliver tangible, long term benefits to those using the path for walking and fishing.”
The short £5k programme of work will remove the deteriorated vertical faces of cope panels on the exterior parapets on either side of the Evan Water. Access to work areas will be via the cycle path and existing verge on either side of the structure. No traffic management measures are required to undertake these works.
A short diversionary route will be implemented for walkers while the work is carried out. This includes:
- Continuing NW on Barnhill Lane to Junction 15 of the M74
- SW through Junction 15, using the existing footpath. Return through footpath exit
While the Southern Upland Way/Annandale Way is not directly part of our network, we acknowledge that essential maintenance works carried out on our structures may impact those using this walking route.
