Closures of B7071 Bellshill Road, Bothwell, at Raith for 5 weeks

As a result of this traffic management there will be no access to Bothwell or Hamilton from Raith, Junction 5 of the M74 and the A725.

This restriction will be followed by a full closure of both carriageways of the B7071 for one weekend (Friday night to Monday morning), currently planned for 27 to 30 November 2015. The full weekend closure will prevent access to or from Hamilton Road and Bothwell Road, Bothwell, via Whistleberry Toll, Raith. As a result of this traffic management there will be no access to or from Bothwell or Hamilton from Raith, Junction 5 of the M74 and the A725.

Signed diversions will be in place on all approaches to provide road users with alternative routes, however, delays are anticipated and motorists are being advised to plan their journey in advance.

This traffic management is necessary to allow the construction of the approach roads to the new Raith Junction linking to the existing mini roundabout at Bothwell Bridge, and has been designed to minimise disruption as far as possible.

Access from the M74 J5 Raith to both the A725 Bellshill Bypass and the A725 East Kilbride Expressway will be maintained during these works.

Graeme Reid, project sponsor for the M8 M73 M74 Motorway Improvements Project, said:

“As a strategic connection on Central Scotland’s motorway network, Raith Junction is undergoing a major transformation and one of the biggest challenges we have is to keep the high volume of traffic using this heavily congested junction moving.

“Work is well underway to create an underpass below the existing roundabout, providing a free flow link (1.8km) for traffic between the A725 Bellshill Bypass and the A725 East Kilbride Expressway, cutting out the existing delays and congestion at Raith. Constructing a new three level junction is a complex engineering task, especially with live traffic passing through it.

“All traffic management schemes are consulted on fully with Police Scotland and the local authority and are design to minimise the disruption a far as practically possible. We would like to take this opportunity to thank local residents and road users for their patience while these works are underway.”

When complete, the M8 M73 M74 Motorway Improvements Project will significantly reduce congestion across the central Scotland motorway network, including at M74 J5 Raith. Road users will benefit by shaving approximately 15 minutes off the daily commute at Raith.