Embankement repairs prompt road restrictions

The restrictions will remain in place while the repairs are carried out.

The A702 at Damhead near Hillend is restricted to a single lane controlled by temporary traffic lights, as a safety precaution after BEAR Scotland engineers identified an area of failing embankment at the roadside.

The discovery was made during routine drainage investigation works carried out by the trunk road operating company.

A repair is currently being designed by our geotechnical engineers and materials ordered, with a view to starting work on site on Monday 3 June.

Temporary traffic lights are expected to be in place until the middle of next week. Further details will be published once the detailed repair programme is confirmed.

Tommy Deans, BEAR Scotland’s South East Network Manager, said: “We’ve taken traffic off the lane next to the failing embankment as a safety precaution.

“We appreciate that this is causing delays to motorists using the A702, so we’re doing everything we can to expedite design and construction work so that we can reopen both lanes as soon as possible.

“We also have operational staff on site during peak hours to manually control the signals and optimise the traffic flow.

“We’re grateful to road users and the local community for their patience and understanding.”

Real time journey information is available from Traffic Scotland at www.traffic.gov.scot, or on X at @trafficscotland.