• Project will involve contraflows on two weekends – 26-29 August and 9-12 September

• A slip road closure will also be in place on each of the affected weekends

The bridge carrying the M8 over the railway at Junction 3A Bathgate is to undergo deck refurbishment and waterproofing replacement works later this summer.

The nature of the project means the M8 will need to be reduced to a single lane in each direction with traffic managed under a contraflow system between junctions 3 and 4 over two weekends at the end of August and start of September. Undertaking the works at weekends is intended to minimise travel disruption as much as possible. The dates have been chosen to avoid key events taking place in communities along the M8 corridor.

The waterproofing membrane is an essential element on all concrete bridges to protect the deck from the harmful effects of chloride contaminated water. However, this membrane has a finite design life and will typically require replacement several times over the life of a structure.  The waterproofing membrane of this structure was last replaced over 20 years ago and has reached the end of its serviceable life.

Over each weekend of the project the existing bridge deck surfacing and waterproofing will be removed and any underlying concrete repairs will be undertaken before a new waterproofing system is applied, the bridge is resurfaced and expansion joints are reinstated.

The contraflow system will be in place between Junction 3 Livingston and Junction 4 Whitburn from 20:30 on the night of Friday 26 August until 06:00 on Monday 29 August and then again from 20:30 on the night of Friday 9 September until 06:00 on Monday 12 September.

In addition, the M8 Junction 3A slip roads will be closed as follows:

• The eastbound M8 off slip will be closed from 20:30 on the night of Friday 26 August until 06:00 on Monday 29 August. Traffic that would otherwise wish to leave the M8 at Junction 3A will be directed to leave the M8 earlier, at Junction 4 and then follow the A801 and A7066 towards their destination. This diversion will add an estimated half a mile and three minutes to affected journeys. The eastbound M8 on slip will be unaffected.
• The westbound M8 off slip will be closed from 20:30 on the night of Friday 9 September until 06:00 on Monday 12 September. Traffic that would otherwise wish to leave the M8 at Junction 3A directed to leave the M8 earlier, at Junction 3 and then follow the A899, A705 and A779 towards their destination. This diversion will add an estimated two miles and five minutes to affected journeys. The westbound M8 on slip will be unaffected.

Chris Tracey, BEAR Scotland’s South East Unit Bridges Manager, said: “The project to refurbish and re-waterproof this bridge deck is essential to ensuring that this motorway structure continues to provide a safe and reliable service for years to come. A key benefit of this project will be to help avoid reactive closures of the M8 to undertake surfacing repairs caused by underlying bridge deck issues, as has been the case in previous winters.”

“Whilst every effort will be made to ensure that the M8 is fully open to traffic each Monday morning at the end of the weekend working, the extent of concrete repairs required will not be known until the existing surfacing is removed.  These works are also weather dependent and so could be postponed and rearranged at short notice depending on weather forecasts.”

“We thank motorists in advance for their patience and understanding and would recommend that they check the latest travel updates and allow extra travel time for their journeys during these periods.”

Consultation has taken place with all relevant stakeholders including local authorities and Police Scotland in advance of these works to make them aware of the traffic management arrangements.

Live traffic information is available from the Traffic Scotland website and Twitter account.