Drivers on the M80 in Stirling will be facing four weeks of overnight closures as major roadworks are set to begin. The Junction 9 northbound slip road on the M80 at Stirling will be closed for a month to allow engineers to repair the road due to concerns of subsidence. The closure follows safety concerns that led to the temporary closure of the slip road back in June due to significant subsidence in the carriageway.
Since August, traffic has been diverted to a temporary link road to bypass the affected area. The repair work will involve excavating a 1000m2 area of the slip road to a depth of 1.5 metres and then reconstructing it with layers of stone, geotextiles for reinforcement, and a new road surface. The overnight closures will take place from 8pm to 6am on Monday to Friday nights, starting from Monday, November 18, for four weeks.
During the overnight closures, traffic wishing to exit the northbound M80 at Junction 9 will be diverted northwards to Junction 10 and then back southbound to exit via the M80 Junction 9 southbound off-slip, adding approximately 10 miles and 11 minutes to affected journeys. Extensive site investigations were conducted to determine the cause and extent of the subsidence, including boreholes and trial pits to rule out any mine shafts or historical mine workings.
Tommy Deans, BEAR Scotland’s South East Network Manager, expressed gratitude to road users for their patience and understanding during the investigations and design work. The repair design aims to address the subsidence issue effectively and ensure the road reopens before Christmas. BEAR Scotland is confident that the repair work will restore the slip road to a safe and functional condition for all road users.
In summary, drivers on the M80 in Stirling will face overnight closures for four weeks as repairs are carried out on the Junction 9 northbound slip road due to subsidence concerns. The closures will allow engineers to excavate and reconstruct the affected area, with diversions in place to minimize disruptions to traffic flow. The thorough investigations conducted have informed a robust repair design to ensure the road’s safety and functionality. Community members are advised to plan their journeys accordingly during the closure period for minimal inconvenience.