UPDATE: Scotland Transerv has announced the scheduled work on the Erskine Bridge on Saturday, Augsut 19 will no longer take place because of forecast high winds.

The weekend-only work is due to resume on Sunday, August 20, lasting from 7am-7pm.

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MOTORISTS have been given a renewed warning to expect "significant" delays on the Erskine Bridge after drivers were held up for much longer than expected last weekend.

Delays of 15 minutes had originally been forecast by the traffic monitoring contractor but motorists experienced hold-ups of half an hour or more on Saturday and Sunday.

Work to protect the long-term integrity of the supporting cable stays started last weekend and is due to continue on Saturdays and Sundays for the next seven weeks, with the exception of September 30 and October 1.

Originally work was to take place at the weekends between 8am and 6pm each day, but this has now been extended, and work will be carried out between 7am and 7pm.

Scotland TranServ’s major bridges manager, Peter McCann said: “We have been working in consultation with Transport Scotland, Police Scotland and the local authorities to revise the traffic management element of our works following last weekend’s significant delays.

“Lanes will now only be coned off in the immediate area of work, with the bridge reinstated to full lanes after that, while we will try to move traffic management as far away from the on-slip to still allow our contractors to work as safely and efficiently as possible.”

Drivers are advised to carefully plan their journeys and to check @trafficscotland on Twitter for the latest roads information.