Grin and BEAR it: Firm warns Falkirk motorists of four straight weekends of roadworks and delays

BEAR Scotland has warned drivers to expect delays due to weekend road works taking place on the M80 this month and the next.

Motorists using the M80 this weekend are advised to expect long delays and consider alternative routes for a second weekend, as BEAR Scotland undertakes major refurbishment works on a bridge carrying the motorway over Station Road north of Junction 7, Haggs.

Motorists are being warned to expect long delays as the work is carried out (Picture: John Devlin)

placeholder image — Motorists are being warned to expect long delays as the work is carried out (Picture: John Devlin)

This weekend, June 12 to June 15, is the second of five weekends in June and July when a contraflow will be in place on the M80 between Junction 6 (Old Inns) and Junction 9 (Pirnhall) with traffic restricted to a single lane in both directions from 7.30pm each Friday evening until 6am on Monday morning.

A reduced speed limit of 40mph will be in force.

These restrictions will also be in place from JUne 26 to June 29, July 3 to July 6 and July 10 to July 13 to allow these major, essential refurbishment works to take place safely.

David Bishop, BEAR Scotland’s south east unit bridges manager, said: “There were significant delays on the route last weekend and we are expecting the contraflow to have an impact on motorists again this weekend.

“Decisions about how to undertake such essential works are never taken lightly. Unfortunately, the location of this bridge, close to one of the busiest junctions in Scotland, where the M80 and the M876 merge, limits potential traffic management options and shows potential delays.

We apologise for the unavoidable disruption while these essential works are undertaken. Our advice is to check the latest travel updates, allow extra travel time for journeys, and consider alternative routes during the weekend contraflows.”

The project to refurbish and re-waterproof this bridge is essential to ensuring that it continues to provide a safe and reliable service for years to come. This should reduce the need for reactive closures of the M80 to repair defects caused by underlying bridge deck issues.

Every effort will be made to ensure that the M80 is fully open to traffic each Monday morning at the end of the weekend working.

These works are also weather dependent and so could be postponed and rearranged at short notice depending on weather forecasts.