Dumfriesshire MSP Elaine Murray and Mid and Upper Nithsdale Councillors Jim Dempster and John Syme are increasing pressure on the Scottish Government and Transport Scotland to give higher priority to continuing roadwork’s on a landslip prone area of the A76.
Roadwork’s have been ongoing on the A76 at Enterkinfoot, between Sanquhar and Carronbridge, for some time as a result of embankment distress.
This has limited the stretch to single lane usage, and despite over 3,000 vehicles using the stretch of road each day, the convoy system is scheduled to remain until investigation work is complete in winter 2016.
Scotland TranServ, Transport Scotland’s operating company in the South of Scotland, will not undertake ground investigation until April 2016, a slope stability assessment until autumn 2016 and will not be releasing the scheme assessment report until winter 2016.
A number of constituents have been in touch with Dr Murray and Councillors Dempster and Syme to express their frustration with the major delays resulting from the road works.
Dr Murray said: “I understand my constituents’ frustration about this whole situation.
“Delays have already been caused by road works for several weeks, and now we’re being told that we’ll simply have to put up with them for at least another year.”
She added: “The reason that so many local people are angry is that if this was a trunk road in the central belt, the Scottish Government would be quick to push for action and repairs would be given the highest of priorities. Instead, our local area is once again being pushed down the agenda.”
