Scotland’s Cabinet Secretary for Transport, Fiona Hyslop, has written a letter to John Cooper, the Scottish Conservative MP for Dumfries and Galloway about the ongoing A75/A77 improvements debate.

Writes Hyslop: “The strategic importance of the A75 and A77 to Scotland’s economy is recognised by this government, and we value the critical link it provides to the wider markets in the rest of the UK and Europe by connecting the ports at Cairnryan to the wider trunk road network.

“As you know, recommendation 40 in the second Strategic Transport Projects Review (STPR2) recommends that safety, resilience and reliability improvements are made to both routes. This will include, but is not limited to improving junctions, enhancing overtaking opportunities and widening or realigning carriageways to alleviate ‘pinch points’ such as narrow structures or at stretches of older standard single carriageway. Any potential future funding will be dependent on the outcome of the UK Spending Review, recognising the significant financial challenges faced by the United Kingdom as a whole.

“The previous commitment by the UK Government to funding of design development work for the A75 is seen as a step in the right direction. However, we await the detail and implications of the UK’s Capital Spending Review to fully understand the implications on our ability to maintain and invest in the A77 and A75, as well as all of Scotland’s transport infrastructure. In terms of short term solutions, our operating company, Amey, is continuing to implement several road safety improvement schemes along the A75. These measures form part of a wider programme aimed at enhancing safety and reducing delays along the A75 corridor.”

The full unexpurgated letter is available to read HERE..

(Pic: Mapillary)