Major delays expected due to emergency repairs

Motorists are being advised to avoid the M74 southbound approaching Raith and to expect major delays.

The junction will close completely from 10pm this evening (Tuesday, 19 January) to allow the repair to continue.

Traffic will be diverted off the motorway at Raith Junction 5 and returned to the M74 southbound via the southbound on-slip at Junction 5.

Motorists are being advised to avoid the M74 southbound approaching Raith and to expect major delays. Preparations are underway to carry out a permanent repair tonight to allow 2 lanes of M74 southbound to reopen to traffic before tomorrow’s morning peak.

Background

As a result of the adverse/ extreme weather conditions and high volumes of traffic, a large pothole has developed on lane 1 of the M74 southbound at Junction 5, Raith.

Following consultation with Police Scotland and the operating company, Amey, lane 1 will remain closed to traffic to ensure the safety of road users, with one lane continuing to operate in the southbound direction.

M74 northbound traffic is unaffected.

This section of the carriageway is currently in contraflow due to the ongoing M8 M73 M74 Motorway Improvement Project with 2 lanes running in each direction.

The damage has occurred to lane 1, previously the southbound hard shoulder, which was being used as a running lane to allow the construct a new bridge on the northbound carriageway.

Emergency works to repair the damaged carriageway surface will result in an overnight closure of the M74 southbound, effective from 22:00 hours (Tues 19 Jan – 06:00 hours Wed 20 Jan), with 2 lanes reopening before the am peak period.