Project Details

Description

BEAR Scotland has been commissioned by Transport Scotland to carry out resurfacing works on the A720 westbound (WB) carriageway between Straiton and Lothianburn. The works on the carriageway will consist of resurfacing to an inlay of 200mm with crack and seat treatment across the scheme extents. The works will involve the reinstatement of road markings and studs for a length of 1465m (approx. 1.3ha) on the A720 Straiton to Lothianburn carriageway.

The construction activities for the resurfacing procedure are as follows:

  • Set up traffic management (TM) and mark out site.
  • Milling of existing bituminous material by road planer.
  • Jackhammer and compressor for breaking up surfaces not accessible by planer (e.g. around gullies).
  • Crack and seat treatment to be carried out.
  • Loader/excavator used to collect and move excess material.
  • Sweeper to collect loose material and provide clean laying surface.
  • Milled out/excavated materials all taken off site.
  • Tack/bond coat laid.
  • Base / binder material laid and compressed by paver (where required).
  • Material compacted using a heavy roller.
  • New bituminous surface course material laid by paver.
  • Material compacted using a heavy roller.
  • Mechanical sweeper to collect loose material.
  • Heavy Goods Vehicle (HGV) for removal and replacement of material.
  • Road markings and studs applied where necessary (in accordance with the Traffic Signs Manual, Chapter 5).
  • Remove TM and open road.

The works are currently programmed to be completed within 2025 / 2026 financial year, with the works due to commence on 28th October 2025 for a duration of 10 nights (excluding Saturdays and Sundays). TM will involve a full nighttime road closure of the A720 WB between Straiton and Lothianburn with a signed diversion in place. Traffic will be diverted off the A720 at the Straiton WB offslip, take the third exit at the first roundabout and first exit at the second roundabout to Burdiehouse Road, turn left onto the B702 (Frogston Road East), continue along the B701 (Frogston Road East, Frogston Brae, Frogston Road West), turn left onto the A702 at Biggar Road Junction, head south and take the second exit at the north roundabout and then the second exit at the south roundabout and finally use the Lothianburn WB onslip to return to the A720 westbound.

Location

The scheme lies on the A720 westbound carriageway, northwest of Straiton (Figure 1), within the City of Edinburgh Council and is predominantly bordered by agricultural land.