Drivers are facing weeks of travel misery as another main route is closed as part of a multi-million pound road improvement project.

The main southbound route to Hamilton, Lanarkshire from junction five of the M74 is to be closed for approximately five weeks as works continue in and around the Raith Interchange at Bothwell.

The closure means drivers coming from Glasgow will have to come off the busy route early or carry on further down the motorway and exit at the Motherwell junction.

After the Raith Interchange itself, the road between Whistleberry Toll and Bothwell Bridge roundabout heading south towards Hamilton will be closed forcing thousands of commuters to find another route to get to work.

One said: "This will cause chaos on an already busy stretch of road, I just don't know where the cars will all go.

"The knock on effect will be massive but hopefully they get the work done quickly and things can start to get back to normal as soon as possible."

The closure is part of a massive project designed to improve one of Scotland's busiest and most congested road networks which incorporates the M8, the M73 and the M74.

Scottish Roads Partnership (SRP), the commercial consortium appointed to deliver the upgrade, insist the closure is necessary and will ultimately result in less congestion for motorists.

SRP general manager Gabriel Valtuena-Ramos said: "The project will bring safer roads, less congestion and a better quality of life for road users and local communities.

"It will also bring significant economic benefits to road users, businesses, communities and industries in the west of Scotland, and the country as a whole.

"Signal diversions will be in place on all approaches. Delays are anticipated and you are advised to plan journeys in advance."

Drivers are asked to listen to local radio and to check social media for up to date traffic and travel information as the works continue.

The main stretch of the M74 through the roadworks, which has seen the motorway reduced to three lanes, is now a 50mph limit and is controlled by a series of average speed cameras.

The £415 million M8 M73 M74 Motorway Improvements Project began in 2013 and is scheduled for completion in spring 2017.

The project will see a six-mile "missing link" completed on the M8 in North Lanarkshire, various upgrades to the Raith Interchange and widening of key sections of the M8, M73 and M74 are also part of the plan.

When complete, it is expected significantly reduce congestion across the central Scotland motorway network and cut the journey time between Glasgow and Edinburgh by around 20 minutes.