New A75 bypass ‘must be a dual carriageway’

IRISH Sea port operators say the long-awaited bypass of Springholm and Crocketford on the A75 must be a dual carriageway.

Transport Scotland is currently analysing options for the route of the potential road as part of a feasibility study funded by almost £8m from the UK Government.

They include those for single carriageway, single carriageway with overtaking lanes and dual carriageway.

But the South West Scotland Transport Alliance (SWSTA) - led by Stena Line, P&O Ferries and Belfast Harbour - says that a full dual carriageway needs to be the option progressed.

In its submission to the public consultation on the route options, SWSTA said: “This bypass should be built as a full dual carriageway in both directions.

“In the longer term interests of reducing the number of collisions on the A75, cutting carbon emissions and enhancing the economy, it would be a false economy to make any part of this bypass single carriageway.

“Every opportunity should be taken to improve the A75 to the greatest possible effect. Failing to do so would, in our view, be failing the communities surrounding the road and those who travel on it.”

Building a dual carriageway bypass of Springholm and Crocketford would, SWSTA argues, also be a statement of intent as the alliance calls for the project to signal the start of a continuous programme of improvements along the A75 and A77.

“We would urge decision makers to start as they mean to go on,” SWSTA’s submission added.

“As improvements are progressed, we would encourage the default assumption that all should be dualled. If there are reasons why dualling is not appropriate in a particular area, the reasons for that should be made explicitly clear.”

Transport Scotland has said it will take until at least early 2027 for a preferred route to be identified.

SWSTA has called on the Scottish and UK Governments to convene a ministerial-led special joint taskforce, including their representatives, to focus on action, drive forward priority improvements - and consider how Westminster and Holyrood will be able to work together to achieve that.

UP ABOVE . . . an aerial view of Crocketford along the A75. Picture: Stuart Walker/SWSTA