IMPROVEMENT works are set to begin on a major trunk road in the Borders.

Resurfacing improvements will take place overnight on the A7 from Ewes Water to Highmill Bridge and Harwood on Teviot, south of Newmill, between 8pm and 6.30am on Sunday, July 2 and Monday, July 3. 

Works will also be carried out from 8am until 4pm, each day, on Saturday, July 22 and Sunday, July 23.

In order for the works to be carried out, a full road closure is required of the A7 between North Bridge roundabout in Hawick and the junction with the B720 north of Canonbie. The same signed diversion route will be in operation for both schemes.

Traffic heading northbound will exit the A7 to the B7201 just north of the Scottish Border, joining the B6357 at the Canonbie Junction and through Newcastleton towards Bonchester Bridge .

Then traffic will join the A6088 to the A698 at Hawick, travelling as far as the A698 Mart Street before re-joining the A7 at the North Bridge roundabout.

Traffic heading southbound will exit the A7 at North Bridge roundabout in Hawick following the A698 to the junction with the A6088.

Vehicles will then follow the A6088 to south of Bonchester Bridge before joining the B6357 to Canonbie, where they will join the B7201 to re-join the A7.

The local bus service will be reduced during the weekend of the works. It will depart Hawick for Carlisle at 8am, 9am, 9.44am and depart Langholm for Hawick at 9.30am and 10.30am on Saturday.

These services will be allowed through the diversion. All other services will follow the diversion, including all services on the Sunday.

The £125,000 works are aimed at improving the condition of the carriageway and reducing the need for more extensive maintenance in the future.

The work has been planned in consultation with Transport Scotland, Traffic Scotland, Police Scotland, the emergency services, the A7 Action Group, local bus companies, Dumfries and Galloway Council and Scottish Borders Council.

Real-time journey information can be found at www.trafficscotland.org  or on Twitter, @TrafficScotland

To report a problem on the network, visit: http://scottishtrunkroadsse.amey.co.uk/report-a-problem/.