BEAR Scotland is advising motorists using the M80 to plan ahead and expect delays during a major programme of gantry replacement, bridge works, resurfacing and cyclic maintenance planned on the motorway from April through to July.

The programme of works has been coordinated to make maximum use of carriageway closures to carry out a variety of maintenance and improvement projects.

A major project to replace an overhead sign gantry that has reached the end of its service life will take place over April and May north of M80 Junction 7. This will be followed in June and July by deck refurbishment works on Banknock Bridge, which carries the M80 over Station Road in the same vicinity.

Many of the same closures will be used to resurface the carriageway on the M80 southbound at Junction 9 (Pirnhall), and on the hard shoulder on the northbound carriageway near Denny.

Closures will also be used to carry out a variety of routine cyclic maintenance tasks, including litter picking, grass cutting, gully emptying, catchpit cleaning, weed spraying, road sweeping and pothole patching, as well as inspections of structures and the carriageway.

Tommy Deans, BEAR Scotland’s South East Network Manager, said: “We’re co-ordinating a series of major improvement projects on the M80 to make the most of the carriageway closures that will be required and to ensure the motorway continues to provide safe and reliable service.

“This programme of works will see us replace and refurbish significant structures on the motorway, renew surfacing at two locations and complete a variety of routine maintenance tasks that require carriageway closures to be carried out safely.

“The works have been planned to minimise disruption to road users as far as possible, however certain tasks cannot be completed overnight so a series of weekend contraflows will be required.

“Motorists should expect significant delays during these weekend contraflows, and longer journey times when following diversion routes.

“We thank road users in advance for their patience and ask them to comply with temporary speed limits for their own safety and to ensure our workers can go home safely to their families each day.”