UPDATE: Transport Scotland and Amey did reconsider their plans and cancelled the closure planned for 17th - 20th August. There will now be single lane closures, overnight, for 9 nights from 31st August.
More details see here: https://trafficscotland.org/news/story.aspx?id=16313
As Berwickshire residents face the prospect of a further A1 closure this weekend, local MP John Lamont is calling for a rethink from transport authorities.
The A1 was due to be closed at Houndwood on the 11th and 12th of August, with another closure planned on 17th – 19th. On Saturday, a diversion via Coldingham was set up, but the volume of traffic caused huge tailbacks and the A1 was reopened under a convoy system mid-morning. On Sunday, the diversion was also scrapped, but motorists took to Twitter to complain about tailbacks of over 75 minutes
Ahead of the closures, John wrote to Transport Scotland to ask them what consideration had been taken to businesses on the A1 who would be losing business due to the closures.
After the disruption caused over the weekend, he is now calling for Transport Scotland and Amey to come up with an alternative plan for the roadworks.
John Lamont MP said: “There was a lot of concern from local residents about these closures ahead of the weekend and they have been proved entirely correct by events.
“Businesses on the A1 were worried about the loss of passing trade over two summer weekends. Residents in Coldingham knew that the A1 traffic wouldn’t cope with the diversion and motorists were concerned that such major roadworks were planned for a busy August weekend.
“The A1 is a major transport route and its absolutely vital to the eastern Borders where there are fewer alternative routes. Unfortunately, this just reinforces my suspicion that Transport Scotland does not consider the A1 as a priority route.
“In the past, closures have taken place overnight and I fail to see why this approach was not taken last weekend.
“I have written to Transport Scotland again to urge them and Amey to learn their lesson. Given the total chaos last weekend, it is clearly time for a rethink.”