• Overnight road closures 28 and 29 January

Motorists using the A7 approximately 2.3 miles south of Langholm are set to benefit from an improved road surface, with two nights of resurfacing works scheduled to begin on Thursday 28 January.

The £128,600 project will see Transport Scotland’s operating company BEAR Scotland resurface 1.53 km of carriageway south of Langholm, creating smoother and safer journeys for motorists.

To ensure the safety of roadworkers as well as the travelling public the A7 will be closed between Canonbie and Hawick from 19:30 until 06:00 on Thursday 28 and Friday 29 January.

A diversion route will be signposted via the B7201, B6357, A6088 and A698, adding approximately 6 miles and 15 minutes to affected journeys.

Consultation has been carried out with emergency services and other relevant stakeholders to make them aware of the plans and share information about the project in advance.

Emergency services will be able to pass through at all times and local access for residents living within the closure points will be maintained when it is safe to pass through the work area.

Strict physical distancing protocols, in line with Scottish Government guidance, are in place to protect teams and ensure they remain safe on site.

Tommy Deans, BEAR Scotland’s South East Network Manager, said: “These surfacing improvements will help to address the defects on this section of the A7 and will greatly improve the experience for motorists.

“It is essential that we close the road during these works to ensure the safety of road workers and motorists, however we’ve arranged for the project to take place overnight to minimise the impact.

“All personnel will be subject to strict physical distancing protocols in line with Scottish Guidance.  Thorough risk assessments have been developed and cleansing stations will be implemented on site to ensure all staff remain safe.

“We thank motorists and the local community in advance for their patience and understanding. We’ll do all we can to complete the work as quickly and safely as possible.”

Real time journey information is available from Traffic Scotland on www.trafficscotland.org, Twitter at @trafficscotland or the mobile site my.trafficscotland.org