"ESSENTIAL" roadworks costing £540,000 start today on the M90 southbound carriageway between the Kelty and Halbeath junctions.

The carriageway resurfacing should take one week, teams will be working on the motorway 24 hours a day, and is expected to be complete by Saturday July 11.

A contraflow system will be in place to keep traffic moving but there will be lane closures in BOTH directions tonight to allow traffic management to be installed.

Andy Thompson, of BEAR Scotland, said: “This essential major £540,000 surfacing project on the M90 will upgrade the existing road surface, greatly improving the quality and safety for road users.

“At this difficult time the safety of our employees and our supply chain remains a top priority during this surfacing project, and all personnel will be subject to strict physical distancing protocols in line with government guidance to ensure they are kept safe.

"Thorough risk assessments have been developed and cleansing stations will be implemented on site to ensure all staff remain safe."

BEAR Scotland are carrying out the work to "create safer and smoother journey for motorists" and there will be overnight lane closures on the northbound and southbound carriageways from 7.30pm tonight until 6.30am tomorrow.

From 6.30am tomorrow, the contraflow system will be in place between the Kelty and Halbeath junctions.

Mr Thompson said: "The traffic management is essential to ensure the safety of road workers and motorists during the project. To help minimise any impact as much as possible, we’ve planned the improvements to take place using 24-hour working, and our teams will do all they can to complete the works as quickly and safety as possible.

“We thank motorists for their patience in advance while our teams carry out these essential improvements on the M90.”

Real-time journey planning information can be obtained by visiting www.trafficscotland.org, twitter at @trafficscotland or the new mobile site my.trafficscotland.org.

Materials removed from the existing carriageway will be recycled using SEPA approved methods.