MOTORISTS who use a remote road in the Lammermuir Hills between Gifford and Duns face a 20km diversion.

A 4km stretch of the B6355 at Mayshiel, south east of Gifford, will be shut for three days from Monday to allow carriageway resurfacing to take place.

The diversion route takes drivers on a 20km tour through East Lothian villages, including Garvald and Gifford, before rejoining the road west of Mayshiel.

East Lothian Courier:

The B6355 passing the entrance to Mayshiel Farm. Image by James Denham and licensed for reuse under a Creative Commons Licence

The section of road will close between 8.30am and 4.30pm each day of the work.

East Lothian Council said it had timed the work to be carried out during the school holidays as some school buses used the route.

But they said while the diversion route was 20km-long, people would be able to find alternative ways to bypass the closure.

A spokesperson said: “The resurfacing work will require the road to be closed as this road is only five metres wide which means that the road surfacing equipment and workers cannot safely carry out the required work without temporary closure.

“As some school buses use this route, the work is being carried out during the school Easter break and a diversion route is in place.

“The length of the full diversion route is 20km but it is unlikely that anyone would follow this full route as other alternatives are also available which would only add 4-5km to the usual access between Gifford to Duns.”