Work on a £6.5m dual carriageway scheme on the A75 will be started today with a ground breaking ceremony by Transport Minister Stewart Stevenson.

The A75 Cairntop to Barlae scheme, which will see a new 1.4 mile stretch of dual carriageway, will improve the access to and from the west coast ports of Stranraer and Cairnryan and support businesses, communities and tourism across Scotland.

Transport Minister Stewart Stevenson said: "I'm delighted to mark the beginning of this important £6.5m project to improve access to and from Scotland's west coast ports.

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"This Cairntop to Barlae scheme will bring significant economic and social benefits to Scotland, including sustaining 30 jobs during the construction period as well as supporting plans to relocate Stena's port to Cairnryan, further developing the area and ensuring connections from Cairnryan north and south are not only retained, but enhanced.

"This investment will also provide better overtaking opportunities, helping traffic flow along the length of the route, meaning quicker and safer journeys for communities, tourists and freight traffic alike.

"The Scottish Government is committed to improving links across the country and this is one of a number of key projects planned for the A75 and A77. We have recently invested £29m in these routes with a further £60m earmarked for eight more projects in the coming months."

The twelve month long contract will see a new eastbound carriageway constructed on the site of a disused railway line, with the existing A75 set to become the new westbound route, giving both east and westbound dedicated safer overtaking opportunities.

(GK)