As part of Transport Scotland’s strategic trunk road management programme, Scotland TranServ will carry out SIX resurfacing projects on the A77 South of Ayr over the next few weeks.
In order to complete these projects as quickly and safely as possible it will be necessary to implement a series of overnight and weekend closures of the trunk road.
Evan Ferguson, Scotland TranServ’s Planned Maintenance Manager said:
“Due to a sustained period of wet and freezing conditions we’ve experienced an unprecedented number of carriageway defects on the country’s trunk roads.
The A77 has been particularly affected by this prolonged wintry period. Transport Scotland has recently redirected budgets towards carrying out these essential road repairs, allowing Scotland TranServ to accelerate the construction of these major road maintenance schemes.”
The projects will see the resurfacing of approximately16,000m2 of road surface. Where possible the programme of works will be carried out under combined road closures.
These will include:
· Phase 1 - Overnight closures only of the A77 for resurfacing at Kirkoswald from 8pm on Monday 19th to 6am each night until Thursday 22nd March
· Phase 2 – Weekend closure of A77 South of Girvan from 8pm on Friday 23rd to 6am on Monday 26th March for resurfacing of 12,500m2 of trunk road at North of Straids Pass, Kennedy’s Pass and Auchencrosh Farm, with retexturing of 10,000m2 of road surface between Kilphin and Auchairne
· Phase 3 – Weekend closure of A77 North of Kirkoswald for resurfacing works at Auchenblane from 8pm on Friday 27th to 6am on Monday 30thApril, and two subsequent overnight closures from 8pm until 6am on the 1stand 2nd of May.
James McLean, Scotland TranServ’s Principal Engineer added:
“We’ve been working in liaison with local authorities and key stakeholders, making it possible to programme these schemes closely together so that they can be carried out quickly, and completed ahead of the Easter holidays and wider tourist season.
“Due to the limited available road width of the A77 it will be necessary to close the trunk road to ensure the safety of our workers and of the travelling public. We have grouped these projects together to maximise the efficiency of these closures.”
Due to the nature of the trunk road network in this area of South West Scotland, diversions routes are significant and add several minutes onto journeys. Motorists and ferry passengers in particular are advised to allow plenty of extra time for their journeys.
Journey times will be monitored in real time and relayed to trafficscotland.org. For live traffic information please follow @trafficscotland on Twitter. Further diversion information is available on the Scotland TranServ website.
This concentrated programme of improvements for the A77 is one of a number of such schemes being scheduled by Scotland TranServ to deliver long-term benefits to commuters, local communities and businesses across South West Scotland on behalf of Transport Scotland.
Andy Fraser, Scotland TranServ’s Operating Company Representative concluded:
“The A77 is an important economic artery for South West Scotland. That is why we have scheduled this significant programme of work to be delivered with maximum efficiency and minimal disruption. 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.”