MOTORISTS in and around parts of Earlston can expect delays next week with a planned two-day road closure.

And a further six-weeks closure is scheduled to start later in the month.

From next Monday (June 11) the Mill Road between the Leader Water and the Blainslie Road junction will shut to allow for a new mains water pipe to be installed.

And from Monday, June 18, Blainslie Road itself will be closed, between the junction of the A68 and the Mill Road junction, for up to six weeks.

The road closures form part of Scottish Water’s £4 million investment to install a 7km new water mains pipe from Newstead to Earlston.

Scott Fraser, regional corporate affairs manager at Scottish Water, said: “We apologise to customers affected by these essential closures and endeavour to keep disruption to a minimum.

"The project aims to improve overall drinking water quality and ensure that customers in the Borders continue to enjoy clear, fresh drinking water now and in the future."

Residents' access will be maintained for the properties within both closure areas.

Barclay Smart, CWA’s project manager said: “So far we have installed over 2km of new mains and are on track to complete the work by October.

"As part of the project and to increase efficiency our alliance partner Caledonia Water Alliance (CWA) is using a technique called horizontal directional drilling to install the main.

“This method is a minimal impact trenchless method of installing underground pipe and means less road surface has to be excavated to install the water main.

"Launching and receiving pits replace the need for a traditional construction trench, resulting in faster, less intrusive work, leading to quicker reinstatement of the road surface.

“In this project this technique has avoided the closure of the A68 and further disruption to local communities and commuters.”