Caledonia Water Alliance (CWA) is continuing work on a £4 million water upgrade project in the Scottish Borders.

The contractor is working to install 7km of new water mains pipe from Newstead to Earlston.

To continue the scheme, Mill Road over the Leader Water to the junction of Blainslie Road will be closed to all traffic for around two days from Monday, 11 June.

Elsewhere, work will begin on Blainslie Road from Monday, 18 June. this work will involve a road closure from the junction of the A68 to the junction of Mill Road for around six weeks.

Barclay Smart, CWA's Project Manager said: "So far we have installed over 2km of new mains and are on track to complete the work by October. As part of the project and to increase efficiency our alliance partner Caledonia Water Alliance (CWA) is using a technique called horizontal directional drilling to install the main.

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"This method is a minimal impact trenchless method of installing underground pipe and means less road surface has to be excavated to install the water main. Launching and receiving pits replace the need for a traditional construction trench, resulting in faster, less intrusive work, leading to quicker reinstatement of the road surface.

"In this project this technique has avoided the closure of the A68 and further disruption to local communities and commuters."

Scott Fraser, Regional Corporate Affairs manager at Scottish Water, said: "We apologise to customers affected by these essential closures and endeavour to keep disruption to a minimum. The project aims to improve overall drinking water quality and ensure that customers in the Borders continue to enjoy clear, fresh drinking water now and in the future."

(LM)