ROADWORKS on the A1 near Queen Margaret University (QMU) will now be in place for three months longer than expected, partially due to a "giant hogweed presence".

However, some progress has been made at the site, as a section of the southbound (eastbound) carriageway reopened alongside a new on-slip providing access from the university, despite delays to the original completion date.

Works at the junction were designed to provide "critical infrastructure" to improve accessibility and connectivity to QMU, which, in partnership with East Lothian Council, is delivering a business innovation hub adjacent to the university – phase one of a wider Edinburgh Innovation Park.

Works have been undertaken by JP Construction and had originally been scheduled to be completed in December, but will now be delayed until March.

A spokesperson for East Lothian Council said: "This is a major civil engineering project and, while it was originally hoped that the work would be completed by December, this timescale has been amended to an anticipated completion of main works in March 2023, assuming no significant adverse weather in the winter months.

"There are a number of reasons for this amendment to the programme, including giant hogweed presence within the site and supply chain pressures on the construction industry at the moment.

"The work is progressing very well and the contractor has hit a number of milestones in line with the original timescale, including this reopening of the A1 southbound and the new on-slip."

The works had seen the southbound (eastbound) carriageway of the A1 closed and replaced with a diversion onto a temporary section of road with a 40mph speed restriction.

A new on-slip road has also been completed, allowing traffic to access the A1 from the QMU campus.

A diversion remains on the northbound (westbound) carriageway as work continues on a new off-slip road, underpass and roundabout.

Temporary speed limits will also remain in place for the duration of the works.

Councillor John McMillan, cabinet spokesperson for environment, economic development and tourism, said: “The junction will provide critical infrastructure to improve accessibility and connectivity to QMU, which, in partnership with the Edinburgh & South East Scotland City Region Deal and East Lothian Council, is delivering an innovation hub adjacent to the university – phase one of a wider Edinburgh Innovation Park.

“It is great to hear that another milestone has been reached and the work is progressing on schedule.”