The first quarter of 2023 marks the end of the financial year for the client, Transport Scotland. In the quarter we’ve delivered over £26m in improvements and maintenance across the South East trunk road network. That takes the total for the year to £75m which is what we were tasked with spending.

In the three months over 23% was dedicated to resurfacing. Resurfacing projects worth a total of £6.1 million have improved surface quality and overall safety for motorists at 29 different locations.

This included motorway improvements, with various sections of the M8 being upgraded (Ratho westbound, Polkemmet eastbound and a section near Livingston between junctions 3 and 2); M876 and the M90 SB slip road from A92. In terms of non-motorway trunk roads, the A1 near Dunbar and Oaktree junction, A7 five miles north of Langholm, A985 west of Limekilns, also benefited from resurfacing improvements.

Additionally, the Routine Maintenance team have completed £500,000 of drainage improvements on the M80 between River Carron and Haggs (shown in image above). As part of this project the filter stone has been removed, cleaned and recycled, with additional stone added to increase the capacity of the drain. This will ensure the drainage system is performing well in this area and can better cope with intensive periods of rainfall. There has also been 6.5km of VRS barriers replaced on the M8 as well as the renewal of over 2km of boundary fencing at M8 Polkemmet.

As well as starting the major refurbishment of the bridge that carries the eastbound slip road off the M8 at junction 3, the Bridges team completed pier protection barrier works on the A1 at Johnny Cope’s and Dolphingstone overbridges and also on the M8 at two overbridges located between Junctions 5 and 6 near Shotts.

Andy Thompson, BEAR Scotland Operating Company Representative for the South East said: “This quarter has seen us complete the delivery of the ambitious programme of improvements across South East Scotland’s trunk road network for the financial year 2022/23 on behalf of Transport Scotland. This was achieved despite some rescheduling required due to unfavourable weather conditions. We’re pleased that this has been achieved as it will benefit all those who use these strategic routes in the south east of Scotland.”