In the final quarter of 2023, BEAR Scotland has delivered £17.7 million in improvements and maintenance across the South East trunk road network on behalf of our client Transport Scotland.

Resurfacing projects worth a total of £8.5 million have improved surface quality and overall safety for motorists at locations throughout the network. This included motorway improvements, with various sections of the M8, M9, M90 and M876 being upgraded, as well as resurfacing schemes on other trunk roads including the A1, A7, A702 and A720.

Road marking and studding works were completed on the A7.

The street lighting team replaced all 39 columns on the M8 Junction 3 slip road.

Drainage works were completed on the M8 and M876, as well as a significant project on the A1 at Abbotsview to replace one hundred seized chamber covers, then jet and CCTV survey the existing system.

The project to replace the Southern Piled Viaduct (SPV) on the Kincardine Bridge is progressing well. Traffic is now using the temporary bridge that has been constructed to bypass the works, and demolition of the old viaduct is complete.  The creation of sheet pile cofferdams was completed in December 2023 to enable the permanent construction work, and permanent piling for the abutment and piers is now under way. This project is being carried out by Balfour Beatty, with BEAR Scotland supervising on behalf of transport Scotland.

Work to install new automated vehicle restraint barriers to the north and south of the Queensferry Crossing was completed. This new system will enable rapid diversion of traffic onto Forth Road Bridge in the event of an emergency closure of the Queensferry Crossing. A full trial was undertaken on 5 November, reducing the time to implement a diversion from 6 hours to less than an hour.

Maintenance and refurbishment works have continued on the Forth Road Bridge, including the ongoing projects to replace the lateral thrust bearings and the elastomeric bearings that support the end of the carriageway deck stringers at the side towers, as well as the refurbishment of the main tower cross girder box sections.

On the South East network’s bridges, joint replacement works were completed at M9 Cadgers Brae and on the A720 between Straiton and Lasswade. Bird-proofing and cleaning works were also carried out on the M8 Harthill Services Footbridge access ramps and stairways.

Andy Thompson, BEAR Scotland Operating Company Representative for the South East said: “The final quarter of 2023 saw us continue the delivering Transport Scotland’s ambitious programme of improvements across South East Scotland’s trunk road network. With winter weather now upon us our focus is on keeping the roads clear and safe for traffic, however we look forward to delivering further improvements over the year ahead.”