RESURFACING work on a busy stretch of road is expected to cause travel misery across Renfrewshire.

Improvements to a 1.2km-long section of the southbound carriageway of the M898, between Erskine Bridge and M8, mean it will be closed from 8pm on Friday, November 30, until 6am on Monday, December 3.

The £400,000 project, to be carried out by Scotland TranServ, will have a major impact on drivers using the Erskine Bridge and surrounding roads.

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Delays in the region of two hours are forecast for the southbound carriageway of the A82.

The A726, M8 motorway at St James' Interchange, in Paisley, and the surrounding communities of Bishopton, Inchinnan, Renfrew, Erskine, Dumbarton, Old Kilpatrick, Bowling, Milton, Clydebank and Bearsden are also expected to be extremely congested.

James McLean, Scotland TranServ’s principal network design engineer, told The Gazette: “This is an important trunk road, connecting a number of communities.

"In order to keep disruption to a minimum for the 40,000 commuters and freight drivers using the route every weekday, we’re proposing to carry out work over the weekend.

"Works have also been specifically scheduled outwith the peak tourism season, avoiding school holiday periods and ahead of the winter.

“To complete such an extensive resurfacing programme, while minimising the impact, we will require the full weekend.

"The short programme of work has been developed in consultation with emergency services, key stakeholders, elected members and local authorities. Views have been sought from these organisations and considered during scheduling of the project.”

There will be a diversion route in place but drivers are urged to consider alternative transport plans for that weekend.

Northbound traffic on the M898 will not be affected.

Special arrangements have been made for emergency services’ vehicles to pass through the works if necessary.

Paul Lynch, Scotland TranServ’s network manager, said: “The carriageway is deteriorating rapidly and, to avoid the necessity of an unplanned repair programme, it is better that we can act now, with support from local authorities, stakeholders and emergency services to carefully schedule these works to minimise impacts as far as possible on the surrounding communities and businesses.

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“Our advice to drivers is to avoid the affected routes during that weekend, seek alternative travel arrangements or use public transport where possible.

"Our expert traffic modelling contractor is predicting severe delays and we would urge drivers to heed all such warnings.”

Live trunk road updates are available by following @trafficscotland on Twitter or visiting trafficscotland.org. Further details on an alternative route are available on the Scotland TranServ website.