BRIDGE WORK . . . essential repairs are required to historic Skippers Bridge at Langholm
PICTURE: ALEX McCRACKEN
A series of Sunday closures are planned to allow a repairs project on a storm-damaged cutwater and parapets on the historic structure.
The programme includes closures between 8 am and 4 pm on Sunday February 26 to allow crane access in order to relocate rock armour.
Then on Sunday March 5 the bridge will be closed between 8am and 4pm to allow a mobile elevated work platform to be positioned on the bridge, providing access to the cutwaters.
Meanwhile, Sunday March 12 the bridge is to be closed between 8 am and 4 pm for remaining work to be completed.
Trunk road operators Amey state that diversions will be put in place but access will be maintained from south to minor roads near the southern side of the bridge.
Signed diversion routes will be in operation.
Traffic heading south from Hawick will be diverted via the A698 to the A6088 and will then join the B6357 through Newcastleton to return to the A7 at Canonbie.
Traffic heading north from Canonbie will be diverted via the B7201 to the B6357, and will then join the A6088 to the A698 and return to the A7 at Hawick.
Amey state that bus operators have been consulted about the works and they will continue to work with them to maintain regular services, whenever possible.
A spokesman for Amey said that engineers will be keeping a watchful eye on the weather to see if the work can go ahead on schedule.
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