MOTORISTS are being warned of disruption as work gets underway on repairing a wall on the busiest road in the Borders.

Work to stabilise the retaining wall and restore the road surface at A68 at Lintalee, south of Jedburgh, began on Thursday and is expected to last six weeks.

To prevent further slippage of the existing wall, a series of rock anchors and soil nails will be installed, and the lane in the carriageway adjacent to the works will be resurfaced.

During the stabilisation works the A68 - a main link road between Scotland and England - will remain open to single lane traffic controlled by convoy traffic control during the day. Convoy working is required to control traffic speed and ensure the safety of road users and road workers due to the narrowness of the carriageway at this location. A vehicle actuated traffic light system, the same as in use at present will be re-established at night.

The works and convoy system will be in operation between the hours of 8am and 5pm, Monday to Friday. Variable Message Signs (VMS) on the trunk road network will be used to make motorists aware of the works.

Once the stabilisation work has been completed there will be a need to close the A68 at Lintalee to allow resurfacing of the carriageway adjacent to the retaining wall. The intention is to carry out this work over one or two weekends in April.

A spokesperson for Transport Scotland said: “During these closures southbound traffic will follow a signed diversion via the A68 Bonjedward junction to the A6088 junction, before continuing southwards to rejoin the A68. Northbound traffic will follow the same route in the opposite direction.

“By carrying out this work now, Transport Scotland is providing value for money by avoiding structural repair work that would need to be done to the wall and carriageway in the future. These repairs will ensure that the road surface is improved and durable for years to come.”