Drivers in Lauder are advised to expect overnight road closures and parking restrictions this autumn as BEAR Scotland undertakes resurfacing of the A68 through the Borders town.

The programme is scheduled to start on the night of Monday 12 October and finish on the night of Friday 30 October. No work will take place on Saturday or Sunday nights.

For safety, the A68 through Lauder will be closed between 19:30 and 06:00 each night while works are under way. Signed diversion routes will be in place for trunk road traffic and local residents.

Trunk road traffic will be diverted between Carfraemill Roundabout and Earlston via the A68, A697 to Whiteburn, A6089 to Gordon and the A6015 to Earlston. This route is expected to add around 12 minutes and 7.9 miles to journeys.

A local diversion will operate between Carfraemill Roundabout (north of Lauder) and the A68 south of Lauder via the A697 and B6362. This route is not suitable for HGVs.

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Overnight parking restrictions will apply between 19:30 and 06:00 on working nights, with measures localised to each phase to reduce disruption. The works will be delivered in three zones:

- 12–16 and 19 October: No parking from north Lauder to Stow Road junction

- 20–23 October: No parking from Stow Road junction to The Avenue

- 26–30 October: No parking from The Avenue to south of Market Place

Access into Lauder will be maintained for local residents and emergency services, and pedestrian access across the town will be retained.

Up-to-date diversion and parking maps will be available at www.bearscot.com/lauder, which will also carry any changes to the programme.

Consultation has been undertaken with emergency services and relevant stakeholders ahead of the works.

Tommy Deans, BEAR Scotland's South East Network Manager, said: "As well as resurfacing the A68 through Lauder, we’ll be replacing ironworks including manhole covers, utility access covers and drainage grates, resulting in a smoother, safer new road surface.

"We understand that road closures are disruptive, therefore we've planned these works to take place overnight when traffic flows are lower.

"We'll also do what we can to mitigate noise disruption to local residents, including completing the noisiest operations by 11pm each night.

"We kindly ask that parking restrictions are adhered to, helping us to complete the works safely, efficiently and with as little disruption to the local community as possible.

"We thank the local community for their patience while these essential improvements are completed."