Chamber and committees

I refer the member to the answer to question S5W-09329 on 31 May 2017. All answers to written Parliamentary Questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at: http://www.parliament.scot/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx

I refer the member to the answer to question S5W-09329 on 31 May 2017. All answers to written Parliamentary Questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at: http://www.parliament.scot/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx

Transport Scotland officials work with the regulator, the Office of Rail and Road, and Network Rail to ensure that matters impacting on the railway network`s performance are addressed and discussed on a regular basis.

Network Rail’s budget for overhead line repair and maintenance in Scotland is around £6 million in each year of Control Period five.

The Scottish Government does not hold information on the specific number of incidents related to overhead line failure in each year since 2014.

The contract awarded to APS (Scotland) Group Ltd, takes the form of a call-off to the existing Publishing, Print, Design and Associated Services Scottish Government Procurement Framework.

This is a single-supplier framework agreement to which APS Group (Scotland) Ltd were appointed in 2014 following an advertised procurement process.

The main access point to and from Coatbridge to the A8 remains unchanged at Shawhead junction. The opening of the new M8 motorway has also provided a significant reduction in traffic flow and congestion on the A8. This reduced A8 congestion and substantial improvement to Shawhead junction, which should be open in the coming weeks, will provide a benefit for those within Coatbridge accessing the trunk road network.

Significant consideration was given to the junction strategy for the new M8 during scheme development with the project designed to reduce the number of conflicting traffic movements, improving safety and journey time reliability. This results in a rationalisation of junctions with the new motorway.

Transport Scotland carried out an extensive public engagement exercise during the development stages from 2006 to 2008, to consult on the plans for undertaking the motorway improvements. A further series of public exhibitions were held at venues in October and November 2013. In addition, Public Local Inquiries were held in July 2008 for the M8 Baillieston to Newhouse scheme, and April 2009 for the M8 M73 M74 Network Improvements work to allow those affected by the projects to raise their concerns. I have included a time line of the consultation events held:

March 2006 and October 2007 publication of draft Road Orders and Environmental Statements, with public exhibitions: M8 Baillieston to Newhouse scheme;

March 2007 publication of Draft Orders and Environmental Statement , with public exhibitions: M74 Junction 5 (Raith) scheme;

March 2008 publication of Draft Orders and Environmental Statement, with public exhibitions: M8 M73 M74 Network Improvement scheme;

July 2008: Public Local Inquiry : M8 Baillieston to Newhouse scheme;

April 2009: Public Local Inquiry: M8 M73 M74 Network Improvements scheme.

Scottish Ministers have a duty to ensure the Trunk Road network is as safe as possible for site staff and road users alike. To this end, all traffic management schemes are designed and coordinated with input from consultees including Police Scotland and the local authorities.

Traffic management as part of the M8 M73 M74 Motorway Improvements Project will remain in place until the new and improved roads open to traffic in the coming weeks, with necessary finishing, landscaping and snagging works being completed thereafter. Transport Scotland will continue to inform road users of any restrictions by various methods including radio, fixed and variable message signs as well as the Transport Scotland website as appropriate.

Transport Scotland and the contractor, Scottish Roads Partnership are working closely together to remove restrictions where possible as sections of the scheme are complete. Once the new roads are open, final landscaping and snagging works will be ongoing as is normal with projects of this type, however, this will not affect peak traffic flows.

During the period of the works motorists have been, and continue to be, encouraged to check the Transport Scotland (https://www.transport.gov.scot/projects/m8-m73-m74-motorway-improvements/) and Traffic Scotland (https://trafficscotland.org/) websites for up-to-date travel advice, and details of planned roadworks and diversions. These websites provide details of all disruptive planned traffic management together with details of signed diversion routes.

The newly improved lanes as part of the new A725 Shawhead junction are due to open in the coming weeks and are anticipated to reduce journey times through the junction by 15 minutes. These final works to allow opening are only now possible following the early opening of the new M8 motorway, reducing traffic flows through the Shawhead Interchange.

When implementing traffic management restrictions, the contractor is required to balance the impact on drivers and the safety needs of those carrying out the improvement works. To assist in this process all traffic management schemes on the project are designed and coordinated with input from consultees including Police Scotland and the local authorities. This process provides an opportunity for all stakeholders to review the proposed traffic management design and identify further mitigation measures to reduce the impact on road users. Following implementation, all traffic management schemes are reviewed on an ongoing basis to see what improvements can be made.

As we enter the final stages of the project, it is necessary to connect the new infrastructure with the existing road network which requires extensive traffic management to be undertaken safely. Transport Scotland will continue to inform road users of any restrictions by various methods including radio, fixed and variable message signs as well as Transport Scotland website as appropriate.

The A725 and A8 APR off-slips at Shawhead Junction were closed the weekend of Friday 12 May to Monday 15 May 2017 to continue essential construction works on the A725 and A8 All Purpose Road slip roads at Shawhead. Works included road surfacing, completion of centre islands, footpaths and installation of traffic signals. This closure allowed the contractor to undertake a significant amount of works which would not have been possible without further and longer peak time traffic restrictions.