• Overnight carriageway closures 19 February to 20 March 2026

• Weekend contraflow 21-22 February 2026

Transport Scotland’s operating company BEAR Scotland is warning motorists using the M9 to plan ahead during a major programme of resurfacing, bridge works and road marking improvements planned on the motorway during February and March.

Overnight carriageway closures will be in place from 19 February through to 20 March, with a contraflow on the motorway 24 hours a day on Saturday 21 and Sunday 22 February.

Weekend contraflow

Works will commence with a major project to renew 0.5 kilometres of carriageway on the M9 southbound near Linlithgow. The northbound M9 will be closed between Junctions 3 and 5 on the night of 19 February and both carriageways will be closed on the night of 20 February.

This resurfacing will be deeper than can be achieved during overnight closures, so the southbound carriageway will remain closed on Saturday 21 and Sunday 22 February to allow materials to cure, with traffic between Junctions 3 and 4 restricted to a single lane in each direction in a contraflow on the opposite carriageway.

Bridge works

This will be followed by joint replacement works on two bridges between Junctions 5 and 7 – the bridge carrying the motorway over the River Carron and the bridge carrying the motorway over the railway near Grangemouth. Overnight carriageway closures will be in place in one direction at a time between Junctions 5 and 7 each night from 24 February to 20 March.

Road marking improvements

Road markings will be renewed on the M9 Junction 5 southbound off-slip on 5 March, using the same carriageway closure as for bridge works. The southbound carriageway of the M9 between Junctions 5 and 1A will then be closed for road marking improvements on the nights of 12 and 13 March.

Programme of closures

The full programme of closures on the M9 during February and March is as follows:

• 19 February, 19:30 to 06:00: M9 northbound closed between Junctions 3 and 5.
• 20 February, 19:30 to 06:00: M9 northbound and southbound closed between Junctions 3 and 5.
• 21 to 22 February, 24 hours a day: Contraflow between Junctions 3 and 4.
• 22 February, 19:30 to 06:00: M9 northbound and southbound closed between Junctions 3 and 5.
• 23 February, 19:30 to 06:00: M9 southbound closed between Junctions 5 and 3.
• 24 February, 19:30 to 06:00: M9 southbound closed between Junctions 7 and 5.
• 25 February, 19:30 to 06:00: M9 northbound closed between Junctions 5 and 7.
• 26 February to 6 March, 19:30 to 06:00: M9 southbound closed between Junctions 7 and 5.
• 7 March to 20 March, 19:30 to 06:00: M9 northbound closed between Junctions 5 and 7.
• 12 and 13 March, 19:30 to 06:00: M9 southbound closed between Junctions 5 and 1A.

Diversion routes

Signed diversion routes will be in place during carriageway closures:

• For closures between Junctions 3 and 5, traffic will be directed via the A904, the A993 Grahamsdyke Road and Dean Road through Bo’Ness, the A904, the A905 and Inchyra Road, adding approximately 1.7 miles and 10 minutes to affected journeys.
• For closures between Junctions 5 and 7, traffic will be directed via the M876 eastbound, A905, A88, B902, Ronades Rd and A9, adding an estimated 6 miles and 20 minutes to affected journeys.
• For closures between Junctions 5 and 1A, traffic will be directed via the A905, the A904 and the M90, adding approximately 18 minutes and 4.7 miles to affected journeys.

Access for emergency vehicles will be maintained at all times.

Plan ahead

Tommy Deans, BEAR Scotland’s South East Network Manager, said: “We’re co-ordinating a series of major improvement projects on the M9 to make the most of the carriageway closures that will be required and to ensure the motorway continues to provide safe and reliable service.

“The section of the M9 southbound that we are resurfacing this month is nearing the end of its service life and it is essential that we replace the road surface now before it deteriorates. A weekend contraflow is necessary due to the depth of construction. The works have a design life of 20 years.

“We recommend checking Traffic Scotland’s website and listening to the radio for journey time information.

“The weekend resurfacing project will be followed by two major schemes to replace bridge joints. These will be competed under overnight closures, so if you need to use the M9 between 7:30pm and 6am during this period, our advice is to plan ahead and allow extra time for the diversion.

“We’re grateful to motorists for their patience and understanding while we complete these improvements.”

Consultation has been carried out with emergency services and other relevant stakeholders to share information about the project in advance.

Real time journey information is available from Traffic Scotland at www.traffic.gov.scot, or on X at @trafficscotland.