Following extensive local consultation, Scotland TranServ on behalf of Transport Scotland will carry out essential resurfacing of the A77 North of Stena from Friday 1 to Friday 8 September.

This important work has been specifically scheduled out with the peak summer period, following discussions with ferry companies, community representatives and Police Scotland.

The poor condition of the carriageway, and continuing deterioration of the road surface means that the urgent repair of the defects is ever more pressing. Potholes are appearing and being repaired on an increasingly frequent basis as the carriageway continues to deteriorate, with partial repair possible only to those more shallow defects.

Alan Murray, Scotland TranServ’s Principal Design Engineer said: “We have worked extremely closely with Police Scotland, local authorities and key stakeholders in the design and planning of this essential programme of work for a number of months. The scheme has already been rescheduled twice before and we are keen that, with the current poor state of the road that this project is carried out as quickly as possible.

“Working with ferry companies and other stakeholders we have scheduled the work to take place out with the peak summer period. We are also working at weekends and overnight in order to minimise disruption to local communities and businesses as much as possible. Due to the geography of the area, an extensive diversion is necessary.”

In order to complete the resurfacing works, delivering a more durable solution to address issues with potholes and structural cracking as quickly and safely as possible, it will be necessary to carry out a series of road closures.

These include:

Full weekend closure 8pm Friday 1st to 6am Monday 3rd September
Four overnight closures 8pm Monday 3rd until 6am Friday 8th September

Traffic management guidelines dictate that an absolute minimum width of 6m is required as a safe working space for carriageway improvements. The narrow width and snaking nature of the A77 at several points within this stretch mean that this cannot be achieved without a full road closure to ensure the safety of our workers and of the travelling public.

An extensive diversion route will be in place throughout. We would therefore advise motorists and ferry passengers in particular to carefully plan their journeys and allow additional travel time. This diversion route includes:

Diversion will be in place via the A75 to Newton Stewart and then along the A714 to Shallochpark Roundabout south of Girvan

Local access up to the works will be provided under traffic management control

Scotland TranServ, on behalf of Transport Scotland is delivering an important programme of work to improve South West Scotland’s trunk road infrastructure and support the economic growth and development of the region.

Andy Fraser, Scotland TranServ’s Operating Company Representative added: “Across South West Scotland, we’re working on behalf of Transport Scotland to prioritise such road maintenance issues and deliver our road surface improvement projects as quickly, efficiently and safely as possible. The A77 is an important economic artery for the region, with many communities and businesses along the route. Throughout, we have scheduled this significant programme to be delivered with maximum efficiency and minimal disruption.”

A77 roadworks

About the Author: John Loughran