Council leaders in Southwest Scotland and Northern Ireland are teaming up to see improvements to key connectivity roads which could “save lives and generate billions” to the economy.
Dualling the A77/A75 trunk roads linking Scotland and England with Northern Ireland would bring £5 billion of “positive benefits” to the UK economy, according to a new report launched last week.
Commissioned by South Ayrshire, Dumfries and Galloway and Mid and East Antrim Councils at the request of the A77/A75 campaign group, the Strategic and Economic Impacts Report looks at improvements to the key trunk roads to Cairnryan.
The A75 and A77 are part of the so-called North Channel Corridor “critical for connectivity for passengers and freight between England, Scotland and Northern Ireland”.
The report, carried out by independent consultants Sweco, looks at seven options, from bypasses of key towns and rail improvements to full dualling of the A75 and A77.
The roads - from Ayr to Stranraer, and from Stranraer to Gretna - are mainly single carriageway with heavy goods vehicles (HGVs) restricted to a 40mph speed limit, causing tailbacks and queues, as well as motorists met with ferry traffic to Northern Ireland.
The three councils are now calling on the Scottish and UK Governments to transform “these vital conduits for communities and commerce”.
Councillor Martin Dowey, Leader of South Ayrshire Council, dubbed the report “a call to action for the Scottish Government”, adding: “These proposals could not only save lives but would generate billions of pounds of transformational benefits.
“We have deliberately included a number of localised solutions such as a bypass-only option, but it’s clear that these smaller fixes would not generate the same impact as full dualling.
“This option combined with rail improvements would vastly reduce journey times and greatly benefit transport users, businesses, and the working population.
“I would encourage the Scottish and UK Governments to read the report and engage with us to find workable solutions.”
Colin Smyth MSP said the report ‘exposes the contempt for the economy of the South West’ by both governments.
He said: “This report shines a light on the clear economic benefits of upgrading these vital trunk roads, yet the UK Government’s Connectivity review just proposed another feasibility study into improving the A75 and the Scottish Government’s Strategic Transport Review suggested little more than tinkering on both roads.
“It is clear evidence that improving our region’s infrastructure will improve the local economy and it is very frustrating that our governments fail to grasp this.
“We need an urgent rethink that puts improving the A75 and A77 at heart of both our government’s plans for investing in Scotland’s transport infrastructure.”
A Department for Transport spokesperson said: “The A75 is a crucial link between Northern Ireland and Great Britain, and we will continue to work with the Scottish Government on options to improve the road.”
Transport Minister Kevin Stewart said improvements to the A75 are one of the 45 recommendations included in the second Strategic Transport Projects Review (STPR2).
He said: "Measures to be considered include enhancing overtaking opportunities, widening or realigning carriageways – for example, bypassing the villages of Crocketford and Springholm – and improving junctions.
“On the A77, we opened the £29m Maybole Bypass in January 2022, improving road safety and air quality in the town centre as well as bringing more reliable journey times for road users.
"This is in addition to around £35m spent on four schemes along the A77 since 2007 at Haggstone, Glenapp, Park End to Bennane and Symmington to Bogend Toll.”
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