Question reference: S6W-25038
- Date lodged: 31 January 2024
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Current status: Answered by Fiona Hyslop on 26 February 2024
Question
To ask the Scottish Government what the proposed improvements to the A77 (a) between Turnberry and Girvan, (b) between Ballantrae and Smyrton, (c) at the Bellfield Interchange, (d) at the Dutch House Roundabout, (e) at the Whitletts Roundabout and (f) at the Holmston Roundabout, as set out in the second Strategic Transport Projects Review (STPR2), will entail.
Answer
STPR2 is a long term framework for transport infrastructure, to drive the capital investment decisions for our strategic transport system. It presents the Strategic Business Case for its recommendations, which each in turn will require their own development for delivery. As STPR2 recommends, the focus of Recommendation 40 is on improving the safety, resilience and reliability on the A77, in turn supporting placemaking opportunities, providing more resilient connections to the ports at Cairnryan.
This would include, but is not limited to, improving junctions, enhancing overtaking opportunities with wide single carriageway, two plus one road layout schemes or climbing lanes at appropriate locations where slow moving traffic leads to risky overtaking manoeuvres, and widening or realigning carriageways to alleviate ‘pinch points’ such as narrow structures or at stretches of older standard single carriageway.
Given that this is a long term investment programme, some elements will not commence immediately and are subject to suitable resources and funding being in place.
Our ongoing commitment to the A77 is demonstrated through our continued investment in the operation and maintenance of the trunk road network. An example of which is our ongoing work with communities in Ballantrae and Kirkoswald on the A77 to address concerns with speeding traffic, noise and lack of pedestrian crossing facilities.
More widely, major resurfacing schemes have recently completed on the A77 at Glen App and around Turnberry and there are plans for further work between Dutch House and Symington; South of Ballantrae and at Stinchar Bridge which will include replacement of the bridge parapets. This is line with the STPR2 Recommendation 32 which stresses the importance of renewing existing infrastructure in order to keep the network reliable and resilient for all road users.