Overnight road closure on 20 October 2022

Transport Scotland’s operating company BEAR Scotland is to upgrade overhead gantry sign panels on the A720 on Thursday 20 October 2022.

For the safety of workers and road users during these works, the off slip to the A71 and Hermiston Gait Eastbound will be closed between 21:00 and 05:30 on the night of Thursday, 20 October.

As there are no other off slips to allow traffic to come off the A720 until Dreghorn in an eastbound direction, traffic will be diverted to this junction where they will then be directed to travel over the interchange and back onto the A720 where they will join the westbound carriageway. The diverted traffic will then be signed to continue on the westbound carriageway past Baberton to the Calder junction or Hermiston Gait.

The diversion will add an estimated 8 minutes to affected journeys. Traffic on the mainline eastbound carriageway will remain unaffected.

Access for emergency vehicles will be maintained at all times.

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

Tommy Deans, BEAR Scotland’s South East Network Manager, said: “This overnight closure will allow safe access for our operatives to repair sign panels on overhead gantries.

“We’ve scheduled the works at night to minimise disruption, however motorists planning to travel on the night of 20 October should plan ahead and allow some extra time for their journey.

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

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