Delays expected as M74 roadworks underway

Mar 10 2011 by Shirley Bartynek, Hamilton Advertiser

MOTORISTS travelling on the M74 this weekend are being advised to allow extra time for their journeys as drainage improvements work gets underway.

The scheme costing £100,000 will be introduced to the south bound carriageway of the M74 between J4 (Maryville) and J5 (Raith Interchange) to aid surface water drainage and make driving conditions safer during wet weather.

Amey will be working around the clock between 8pm tomorrow Friday (March 11) and 6am on Monday morning (March 14) to deliver these works over just one weekend when traffic flows are expected to be lighter. They hope to eliminate impact on peak-time journeys.

Over the weekend the south bound carriageway of the M74 between J4 (Maryville) and J5 (Raith Interchange) as well as the M73 south bound on-slip to the M74 will be closed.

Traffic heading south on the M74 will travel through a contra flow system on the north bound carriageway, which will maintain one lane of traffic running in each direction.

Road users wishing to access the M74 via the M73 south bound on-slip will be directed further along the M74 to turn at J1 (Fullarton). A reduced speed limit of 50mph will be in operation throughout the length of the contra flow with a further reduction to 30mph at crossovers to ensure the safety of road users and road workers.

With more than 73,000 daily road users on this stretch of road, some delays are expected.

Amey urge drivers to plan their journey in advance, and leave extra time for travelling.

Colin Mackenzie, Amey’s unit manager for south-west Scotland, said: “At the heart of everything we do is road user safety. Improvements which allow rain water to run off the carriageway more efficiently make for safer driving conditions, particularly on high speed trunk roads and motorways.”

Motorists travelling in this area over the weekend should allow extra time for their journey.