ROADS bosses are to spend more than £1million on a bridge over one of Scotland's busiest motorways - in a bid to stop lorries crashing into it.

ROADS bosses are to spend more than £1million on a bridge over one of Scotland's busiest motorways - in a bid to stop lorries crashing into it.

The Arkleston Bridge on the M8 near Glasgow Airport is to be raised by six inches following a string of accidents involving high lorries.

Last September a lorry being carried on a flatbed trailer smashed into the bridge and dropped on to the carriageway causing severe disruption.

Haulage boss David McCutcheon last year called for a probe into the bridge claiming a serious accident was "inevitable" unless work was carried out.

Mr McCutcheon, of Bothwell-based Bullet Express Logistics, said three of his lorries had struck the bridge in two years and he knew of other cases.

Transport Scotland is now to spend £1.2m on raising the bridge, installing a new central pier, safety barriers and parapets, and repainting, strengthening and waterproofing it.

Andrew Brodie, senior engineer at Transport Scotland, said: "This is the first major overhaul of Arkleston Bridge in more than 40 years and the work we do now should ensure it continues to operate safely for many years to come.

"Raising the whole bridge will help prevent the types of collisions which have occurred in the past and have caused damage to the bridge beams."

The work will be carried out by road contractors Amey. It will start on July 17 and last for eight weeks.

Colin Mackenzie, Amey's unit manager for south west Scotland, said: "The work is scheduled to largely coincide with the school holidays to further reduce any disturbance to commuters."