A68 crossing work to begin next Friday in Jedburgh

The road will also be resurfaced at the site at the Abbey Bridge End junction on the night of Friday, July 31.

One lane of the A68 will be closed from 7.30pm until 5am, with traffic controlled by three-way temporary traffic lights.

These essential works, costing £65,000, will improve safety and connectivity for pedestrians and wheelchair users, as well as improving the ride quality for road users at this location.

Councillor Jim Brown, who has been lobbying for the crossing for a number of years, is delighted that it will be completed before the new school campus is opened.

He told us: “Unfortunately the work to install the crossing was halted due to the Covid-19 disaster, but it’s good to see things are happening again on the A68.

“The issue was highlighted by the people who work in the Laidlaw Memorial Pool, who watched people try to circumnavigate the pedestrian banners and cross the busy road.

“People on disability scooters were going along the A68 to cross it, which was pretty dangerous.

“Approximately two-thirds of the town come from the other side of the A68 so they have got to find a way across to get to the town centre.”

The scheme has been planned in consultation with Transport Scotland, Traffic Scotland, Scottish Borders Council, the local community council, businesses and bus operators.

A spokesman for contractor Amey said: “The safety of workers remains a top priority during this essential maintenance project.

“Physical distancing protocols, in line with Scottish Government guidance, will be in place to ensure all on-site personnel remain safe throughout the duration of the project.

“Thorough risk assessments will be carried out and cleansing stations will be implemented on site.

“Transport Scotland and Amey fully recognise the importance of a safe and reliable trunk road network, particularly during the Covid-19 outbreak, and it is vital that essential maintenance works are carried out in order to maintain the integrity and safety of these routes.

“A number of maintenance projects have been identified as essential and will be prioritised over the coming weeks.”