Full overnight closures of M8 announced for this week - here's when

BEAR Scotland, on behalf of Transport Scotland, said the closures are necessary to allow contractors to remove traffic management safely

A diversion route will be signposted in both directions via the A779, A7066, and the A801, adding an estimated 1.1 miles and five minutes to affected journeys.

Meanwhile, major bridge works on the M8 between Junctions 3A and 4 will pause over Christmas and New Year, but return in late January for two more months.

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The project to refurbish the bridge carrying the B792 local road over the M8 motorway between Bathgate and Blackburn has been ongoing since May this year. The current phase of works will end on December 19, when the contraflow and 40mph speed limit will be removed.

Traffic management will then be reinstalled on the nights of January 17 and 18, 2026, when the M8 will be fully closed in both directions between Junctions 3A and 4 from 8:30pm until 6am each night. A diversion route will be signposted in both directions via the A779, A7066, and the A801, adding an estimated 1.1 miles and five minutes to affected journeys.

The final phase of works on the bridge will commence on January 19 with a contraflow and 40mph speed restriction in place between Junctions 3A and 4 for approximately two months. Two lanes will remain open in each direction.

Motorists using the M8 are advised to plan ahead and expect delays, however traffic using the B792 local road between Bathgate and Blackburn will not be affected.