OVERNIGHT CLOSURES OF A68 FOR BRIDGE WORKS SOUTH OF EARLSTON

November 14, 2024

UPDATE 12/12/2024: The next overnight closure of the A68 south of Earlston will now take place on the night of 17 December, as a result of weather-related delays to our programme of works elsewhere.


  • Overnight road closures 16 November and 17 December 2024

Four overnight closures of the A68 south of Earlston are scheduled, as a part of the ongoing major project to refurbish and replace the bearings of the bridge that carries the trunk road over Leader Water.

The A68 across the bridge will be closed in both directions between 20:00 and 06:00 on the nights of 16 November and 17 December.

A signed diversion route will be in place between Earlston and St Boswells, via the A6105, A6089 and A699, through Gordon and Kelso. This diversion will add an estimated 25 miles and 32 minutes to affected journeys.

Dave Bishop, BEAR Scotland’s South East Unit Bridges Manager, said: “It is necessary for safety that we close Earlston Bridge overnight while these works are carried out.

“If you need to use the A68 on these nights, our advice is to plan ahead and allow plenty of extra time for your journey.

“Some additional overnight road closures will be required over the remainder of the project. Details will be published as soon as dates are confirmed.

“We’re grateful to road users and local communities for their patience and understanding.”

The project to refurbish the bridge over Leader Water is programmed to continue until February 2025.

Consultation is being carried out with emergency services and relevant stakeholders to share information about the works in advance.

Live traffic information is available on the Traffic Scotland website www.traffic.gov.scot or on X at @trafficscotland.