The affected stretch of the A723 will run from the junction of Ballantyne Drive, Hamilton, to the roundabout accessing the Cala Homes development.

The closure will begin on 30 October and will remain in operation until 5 April next year, and is necessary due to work being carried out by Luddon Construction on behalf of both Cala Homes and Barratt Homes.

Two alternative diversions will be in operation during this period, one for traffic suitable for motorway travel and one for all traffic.

Colin Park, Head of Roads, Transportation and Fleet Services at South Lanarkshire Council, said: “The need to close the road is not a decision that has been taken lightly but, to enable the contractor to carry out the work and to ensure the safety of their workforce, it is one that is unavoidable.

“Luddon have expressed their commitment to maximising their working hours as far as planning permission allows in an effort to progress the works as quickly as possible. 

“However, disruption will be inevitable and we would be grateful for the co-operation of everyone affected during these essential works.

“I would ask everyone to take note of the implications on their journey of the closure and diversions plan their journeys accordingly, allowing additional time if necessary.”

The motorway-traffic diversion (shown on the map as Diversion 1 - black dotted line) will run via A723 Hamilton Road, A723 Commercial Road, A723 Green Street, A723 Townhead Street, A71 Kirk Street, A71 Stonehouse Road, A71 Strathaven Road, A71 Stonehouse bypass, Canderside Toll on to M74, M74 until junction 6 and off onto Motherwell Road, A723 Blackswell Lane, A723 Low Patrick Street, A723 Duke Street, A723 Gateside, A723 Portland Place, A723 Low Waters Road and A723 Strathaven Road.

The non-motorway-traffic diversion (shown as Diversion 2 - blue dotted line) will run via A723 Hamilton Road, A723 Commercial Road, A723 Green Street, A723 Townhead Street, A71 Kirk Street, A71 Stonehouse Road, A71 Strathaven Road, A71 Stonehouse bypass, Canderside Toll on to B7078 Carlisle Road, B7078 Machan Road, B7078 Church Street, B7078 Union Street, B7078 Hamilton Road, B7078 Carlisle Road, A72 Carlisle Road, A72 Townhead Street, A723 Blackswell Lane, A723 Low Patrick Street, A723 Duke Street, A723 Gateside, A723 Portland Place, A723 Low Waters Road and A723 Strathaven Road.