Roadworks delays hit Edinburgh Airport passengers

Air travellers flying in and out of Edinburgh this week are being warned of potential delays because of a major roadworks programme beginning today.
Traffic at the Newbridge junction will be hit. Picture: Phil WilkinsonTraffic at the Newbridge junction will be hit. Picture: Phil Wilkinson
Traffic at the Newbridge junction will be hit. Picture: Phil Wilkinson

Essential night-time maintenance to improve the surface on the M9 at Junction 1, southbound, will take place over the next four nights.

It is a crucial route for those travelling to catch flights out of Edinburgh Airport.

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Neil Greig, of the Institute of Advanced Motorists, told travellers they must adjust their arrangements to ensure they reach the airport in time.

He said: “Doing the roadworks overnight certainly minimises the disruption to motorists.

“But this is a crucial route to the airport and is used 24/7 because flights are departing and arriving late at night and during the early hours.

“And motorists have also got to remember that some of the worst tailbacks in Scotland have been caused by contractors over-running the time they should be working.

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“This could cause major obstacles for air travellers if it happens on their day of departure.”

The slip road will be closed from 8pm until 6am on each of the four nights.

Road users are being warned to allow for an additional journey time of around 11 minutes in completing the diversion.

The 1.1km long stretch of road at Newbridge Junction, as well as lane 1 of the M9 adjacent to the works, will be closed during the works and a clearly signed diversion will be in place.

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Traffic will be diverted to the M8 Junction 2 to travel eastbound towards Edinburgh, continuing to Hermiston Gait and then be directed back along the westbound M8 to the Junction 2 offslip, returning to Newbridge Roundabout by exiting the diversion at Junction 1 using the northbound off-slip.

The route is an important motorway off-slip connecting the Forth Road Bridge and Stirling to Edinburgh and Edinburgh Airport. This stretch of road is used by an average of 30,000 motorists each day.

A spokesman for the AA said summer was the best time to carry out vital roadworks. “It can be an absolute pain for those caught up in delays, and it can’t be nice for visitors coming to the country to see such roadworks, but they are essential for the maintenance of our roads.”

A spokesman for the Scottish South East Trunk Roads Unit said: “Travellers taking late evening or early morning departing flights from Edinburgh Airport should pay particular attention to this.

“The improvements to the road surface represent an investment of £140,000 by Transport Scotland to ensure motorists experience greater journey time reliability, continued safety and comfort.”