Drivers face delays during Bathgate bridge repairs

Drivers face delays as repairs are carried out on the Guildiehaugh railway bridge in Bathgate.

The bridge carries the B792 Blackburn Road over the Edinburgh to Glasgow railway line.

Repairs are required to the composite steel/concrete structure of the bridge to ensure the safety of the railway line below and users of the road.

The project is due to start on Saturday with work during railway possessions mainly being restricted to the weekend, taking place between 11pm on Saturday and 7am Sunday morning every weekend until all works are complete.

An exception to weekend working is expected to take place over the Christmas and New Year period, when weekday work should be able to take place, but this will be entirely dependent upon temperatures.

If weather conditions allow works over Christmas and New Year then works should be completed by February.

Failing this, works may last into the spring.

By the end of November traffic management will be placed on Blackburn Road at the structure.

This will involve temporary traffic signals, reducing traffic to one lane over the structure. Plant and materials will be passed over the bridge parapet during railway possessions and pedestrians will be re-routed around this.

The traffic management will only be in place in advance of and shortly after removal of each railway possession.

Local residents and businesses have been issued a letter with further details on the project.