The M74 motorway will be closed in both directions between Junctions 4 and 5 this weekend, as part of the ongoing M8, M73, M74 Motorway Improvements Project. The closure, from 8pm on Friday 18 November to 6am on Monday 21 November, is necessary for the demolition of BothwellPark Road Bridge, the final structure to be removed in the £500 million scheme.
Transport Scotland has warned that this will be the most significant road closure yet in the M74 masterplan, with up to 140,000 vehicles typically using the route on a weekend. Graeme Reid, Transport Scotland project manager, said: “We are anticipating major delays on all approaches, the surrounding roads and the main diversion route.”
The closure will prevent access from the M73 to the M74 southbound at Junction 4 Maryville and to the M74 northbound at Junction 5 Raith. Bothwell Services will also be inaccessible from the M74 southbound, with the next available services at Junction 11 Happendon or Junction 13 Abington. Signed diversion routes will be in place via the A725, A8 and M73, but delays are expected.
South Lanarkshire Council has introduced parking restrictions on a section of Main Street, Bothwell, for the weekend, and traffic signals at key junctions will be monitored to improve flow. Scotrail is anticipating increased passenger numbers and will provide extra capacity on Lanarkshire railway services.
Gabriel Valtueña-Ramos, general manager of contractors Scottish Roads Partnership, said the weekend closure was chosen after extensive consultation as the most efficient way to minimise disruption. When complete, the project is expected to reduce congestion across central Scotland, shaving around 20 minutes off the Glasgow to Edinburgh commute and 15 minutes through Raith Junction 5.
