BEAR Scotland has made a "good start" to an ambitious programme of improvements on the South East trunk road network, with a number of significant schemes already completed.

Resurfacing projects worth a total of £7 million have improved safety and ride quality for motorists at 27 different locations, including the M8, M9, M80, M876 and A823(M) motorways, as well as other trunk roads including the A1, A7, A68, A702 and A720.

Work to renew the road markings and road studs on the M90 from the Queensferry Crossing to Junction 3, on the A1 between Dunbar and the national boundary, and on the A985/A977 have been completed in this period. This £1.7 million investment has seen the existing markings replaced with a new higher performance line, which improves reflectivity – particularly in wet conditions.

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A five-week programme of overnight maintenance on the A720 Edinburgh City Bypass was carried out over 17 phases in April and May. Works completed included litter picking, gully emptying, catchpit cleaning, weed spraying, road sweeping, pothole patching and repairs to signs and safety fences.

A 12-night programme of works to renew the road surface on the westbound carriageway of the A720 Edinburgh City Bypass r at Straiton Junction began on Monday 20 June.

The £1.1m project to replace bearings on Hill Bridge, which carries the eastbound M876 over the M9 at Junction 8, was completed in June with subsequent replacement of safety barriers below the bridge on track to be completed by the first week of July.

Andy Thompson, BEAR Scotland Operating Company Representative for the South East said: "The level of investment in improvements on trunk roads in South East Scotland underlines Transport Scotland and BEAR Scotland’s commitment to improving the experience for road users travelling on the routes that we maintain. We look forward to delivering further improvements over the months and years ahead."