M8 BRIDGE PIER PROTECTION WORKS NEAR HARTHILL

March 21, 2022

  • Overnight carriageway closures 29-31 March 2022

Three overnight carriageway closures are scheduled on the M8 near Harthill, to allow Transport Scotland’s operating company BEAR Scotland to complete pier protection works on the bridge that carries the B718 Westcraigs Road over the motorway.

The improvements are being carried out as part of an ongoing project to upgrade safety barriers on the central reserve of the M8 between J4a and Harthill. These upgrades will ensure the barriers conform to modern standards and help to prevent accidents caused by vehicles straying onto the opposite carriageway.

Whilst most of this work is being carried out using lane closures, certain phases of the pier protection works require full carriageway closures for the works to be carried out safely.

Carriageway closures will be in place between 20:30 and 06:00 on the following nights:

  • 29 March: M8 westbound closure between Junction 4a Heartlands and Junction 5 Shotts with a diversion via the B7066 and B7057
  • 30 and 31 March: M8 eastbound closure between Junction 5 Shotts and Junction 4a Heartlands with a diversion via the B7057 and B7066.

The diversion will add an estimated 0.5 miles and 6 minutes to affected journeys.

Chris Tracey, BEAR Scotland’s South East Unit Bridges Manager, said: “These pier protection upgrades will significantly improve safety for road users on this stretch of the M8.

“It is essential that we close the carriageway during the works, however we’ve arranged for them to take place overnight to minimise the impact.

“We thank the travelling public in advance for their patience and understanding.”

Real time journey information is available from Traffic Scotland on www.trafficscotland.org, twitter at @trafficscotland or the mobile site my.trafficscotland.org