Work to improve the road layout at the A71 Horsley Brae junction has gotten underway today, Monday 21 October, North Lanarkshire Council has announced.

North and South Lanarkshire Councils and Strathclyde Partnership for Transport (SPT) are investing a total of £1.6 million in the project which aims to reduce congestion at the busy junction.

The A71 will be widened to create a right-turn lane northbound, for traffic turning on to Brownlee Road, and a merging lane for traffic travelling south on Brownlee Road and joining the A71.

A contractor JH Civil Engineering Ltd has been appointed to carry out the work, which is expected to take approximately 26 weeks.


Traffic management will be used to allow vehicles to continue using the A71 during the majority of the works, however during certain phases of the proposed works, it is expected that road closures will be necessary. The most efficient diversion routes will be advised in advance of the closure.

Councillor Michael McPake, Convener of the Environment and Transportation Committee, said: "This is a very busy junction particularly at morning and evening peak times, with traffic queuing to turn right which leads to delays and congestion back to the Garrion Bridge roundabout.

"By creating a right-turn lane with capacity for approximately 14 cars, we will reduce the queue of northbound cars while the southbound merging lane will improve traffic flow away from the junction.

"Improvements will also be made to pedestrian routes across the junction to make the popular Clyde walkway safer.

"We appreciate that the roadworks will cause delays over the coming months but, when complete, we will see significant improvements in traffic flow and road safety for drivers and pedestrians."

SPT are investing £800,000 in the project with both councils contributing £400,000 each.

(MH/JG)