WORKS POSTPONED:

Works planned for the night of 4 December have been postponed due to forecast heavy rain. They will be rescheduled for a future date to be confirmed.

• Overnight closures at two locations

• Works scheduled from Friday 1 December 2023 for five nights

The A7 in Hawick is set to benefit from an improved road surface, with a total of five nights of resurfacing works scheduled from Friday 1 to Thursday 7 December, with no works planned for Saturday or Sunday nights.

The works will see Transport Scotland’s operating company BEAR Scotland resurface the A7 carriageway on the approach to Dovemount Roundabout and on the roundabout itself.

The works will take place between 21:00 and 06:00 each night.

To ensure the safety of roadworkers and the public during these works, the A7 will be closed at this location with a signed diversion route in place. Local access will be permitted up to the point of the closures.

Diversion routes for trunk road traffic will be as follows:

• Friday 1, Wednesday 6 & Thursday 7 December (3 Nights):

Northbound and southbound traffic should follow the signed diversion route between Hawick and Selkirk via the A698, A68 and A699. This diversion will add approximately 14 miles and 20 minutes to affected journeys.

• Monday 4 & Tuesday 5 December (2 Nights):

Northbound traffic should follow the diversion route from Commercial Road via Albert Road and Princes Street to rejoin the A7. This diversion will add no additional time to affected journeys.

Southbound traffic will be diverted off the A7 from Selkirk via the A699, A68 and A698. This diversion will add approximately 14 miles and 20 minutes to affected journeys.

Local traffic will be able to bypass the works via Princes Street, Stirches Road and Guthrie Drive. Access to Mansfield Road will be available via Burnfoot Road and Hamilton Road.

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

Relevant stakeholders have been consulted in advance to make them aware of the plans.

Tommy Deans, BEAR Scotland’s South East Network Manager, said: “It is essential for safety that we close the A7 while renewing the road surface, however we’ve scheduled these works at night to minimise disruption.

“We’re grateful to road users and local residents for their patience and understanding while we carry out these improvements.”

Real time journey information is available from Traffic Scotland at www.traffic.gov.scot, or on X at @trafficscotland.

All work is weather dependent and subject to postponement or cancellation in the event of adverse conditions.