B7031
| B7031 | ||||
| Location Map ( geo) | ||||
| ||||
| From: | East Calder (NT096681) | |||
| To: | Kirknewton (NT121648) | |||
| Distance: | 3 miles (4.8 km) | |||
| Meets: | B7015, A71, A70 | |||
| Highway Authorities | ||||
| Traditional Counties | ||||
| Route outline (key) | ||||
| ||||
The B7031 is a short route in western Midlothian. It was originally unclassified but had gained its number by 1932.
The route starts at a T junction on the B7015 (ex-A71) between East Calder and the new development of Calderwood. It heads south across the fields, passing a handful of properties before reaching the A71. The junction used to be a straight crossroads, but is now staggered, with a right-left dogleg, although this section of the A71 is itself a modern road. After winding back round on to its original alignment, the route crosses the Gogar Burn and enters Kirknewton. A short distance further on a T-junction is reached, where the route TOTSOs left whilst the road to the right returns to the A71 and on to East Calder. This is indeed the busier route, meeting the A71 at a signalised staggered crossroads and therefore being a more direct and easier route between the two villages. The B7031 is now heading east, and zigzags over the Edinburgh branch of the West Coast Main Line at a level crossing adjacent to Kirknewton Station. It then follows Station Road towards the village centre.
Station Road is primarily lined with modern bungalows, although the parish church and primary school stand on the right. A little further on, fields open up to the right and the route curves round to head south east at a junction, the village centre lying ahead along Main Street. A short tree lined cutting sees the route climb out of the village and back into open country. After skirting the western edge of the wooded grounds of Kirknewton House, the route follows a long straight past Kirknewton Airfield, still nominally an RAF base. This climbs up to a summit of 213m at the end of the route, where it terminates at a T-junction on the A70.
A71 Junction
The A71 East Calder and Mid Calder bypass opened in 1981, and cuts across the B7031 between East Calder and Kirknewton. Rather than provide a straight crossroads, the southern arm of the B7031 was kinked to provide a staggered junction with turning lanes for left turns, but minimal assistance for traffic turning right. In summer 2024 this junction was rebuilt to provide a straight crossroads controlled by traffic signals, the kink on the southern part of the B7031 being removed in the process.
