Bridge work will close road for eight months

infrastructure investment projects to take place in Scotland.

A section of the B8048, which runs between Cumbernauld and Kirkintilloch, will close from July 27 until around March next year to allow the safe demolition and reconstruction of the bridge over the railway.

A rail spokesperson said it represented a £2m investment in infrastructure and the work would last for eight months.

Road users are being advised to allow an additional 20 minutes for their journeys.

An all-vehicle diversion route has been agreed with both North Lanarkshire Council and East Dunbartonshire Council.

It will be in place for the duration of the works.

The bridge replacement at Drumgrew Road is part of a series of similar projects across central Scotland to create extra height over the railway to make space for the overhead line electrification as part of EGIP, a Scottish Government-funded investment worth £742m.

EGIP is delivering a rolling programme of electrification across the central belt – reducing journey times and increasing capacity on routes by improving the infrastructure to enable faster, greener and more energy efficient trains.

A Network Rail spokesperson said: “Drumgrew Bridge is one of six bridges we are currently working on to create height clearance to safely run our overhead electrification cables.

When complete, the four year route clearance project will have successfully cleared 60 bridges and tunnels on lines between Glasgow, Edinburgh and Stirling.

“In addition to the bridge works, we are also installing electrification infrastructure, lengthening station platforms and building and redeveloping major stations on the line.

“The reconstruction of the bridge at Drumgrew Road is a considerable undertaking, not least because much of the work has to be done at night to maintain train services during the day, but also due to the significant number of utilities that must be safely diverted before construction works can get underway.

“We appreciate there will be some disruption during this time for local communities and commuters who regularly use this road. We are grateful for their patience as we deliver this investment in our infrastructure.”

EGIP has also already successfully delivered the £80m electrification of the Cumbernauld line and the £25m redevelopment of Edinburgh’s Haymarket

For further information, visit www.egip.info.