In the fourth quarter of 2022, BEAR Scotland has continued its ambitious programme of improvements on the South East trunk road network, with a number of significant schemes completed.

Resurfacing projects worth a total of £6.3 million have improved surface quality and overall safety for motorists at 17 different locations, including the M9, M876, M8, A1, A68, A702 and A720. Highlights include a combined length of 4.3km of carriageway resurfaced on the A1 in East Lothian.

A challenging project was completed on the bridge carrying the M90 motorway over the railway near Kirkliston, with a full programme of deck refurbishment and waterproofing replacement works carried out over two weekends in November. A key benefit of this project is that this will help avoid reactive closures of the M90 when undertaking surfacing repairs caused by underlying bridge deck issues, as has been the case in previous winters.

Work to refurbish the Forth Road Bridge’s north and south viaduct decks had begun in July and was completed in November 2022. This included removal of the existing central reservation surfacing and kerbs, followed by deck preparation and concrete repairs across the complete deck, spray-applied waterproofing and installation of new kerbs. The decks had never previously been waterproofed, and although the concrete was generally in good condition there were several areas where extensive repair work was required.

Other highlights from Q4 2022 include:

• A 28-week programme of upgrades to safety barriers protecting the piers of three bridges crossing the M9 between Junctions 6 and 7 was completed in November
• Upgrading of over 3,000 metres of central reserve and bridge support barriers on the M8 between Harthill Services and Junction 5
• A project to widen the northbound A977 between the Kilbagie and Gartarry Roundabouts, which will improve traffic flows at busy times once complete
• Replacement of over 4,000 metres of carriageway filter drain on the A985 between Kincardine and Devilla Forest, in an investment by Transport Scotland worth £400,000
• A new pedestrian crossing and surfacing installed on the A68 in Pathhead
• Improvements to road markings and studs on the A68 between Earlston and the national border, in an investment by Transport Scotland worth £680,000
• Continuing works to improve signing, lining, and barriers on the A7 and A702
• Replacement of over 2,000 metres of boundary fence on the southbound M9 between the A9 Plean underpass and the railway line north of the M876.

Andy Thompson, BEAR Scotland Operating Company Representative for the South East said: “Over the final quarter of 2022 BEAR Scotland has continued to deliver an ambitious programme of improvements across South East Scotland’s trunk road network. The level of investment from Transport Scotland underlines our shared commitment to improving the experience for road users travelling on the routes that we maintain. We will continue to work hard to deliver further improvements over the months and years ahead.”