First Minister Alex Salmond has announced the main road running through the southern Kintyre peninsula is to become a trunk road within the next year.

Once the process is completed, Scottish Ministers would assume responsibility for operations and maintenance of the 51km stretch of the A83 between Kennacraig and Campbeltown.

Mr Salmond said the decision would build on the Scottish Government's £12m investment to improve the route since 2007, as well as add to a portfolio of recent transport enhancements for the Kintyre peninsula. He added that the extension to the trunking would provide more effective route management for the A83, with the 106km section between Kennacraig and Tarbet already under the responsibility of Transport Scotland.

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Minister Salmond said: "Improving transport connections to all corners of Scotland is vital to ensure local communities and businesses prosper and play their part in sustaining economic growth across the country.

"So far, Transport Scotland has invested nearly £12 million in improvements to the A83. This is in addition to the £3 million package of works which included delivery of a local diversion route at the Rest and Be Thankful, and we are committed to investing a further £4 million this financial year to mitigate the effects of landslips at the location.

"However, we want to build on that and improve the road network in Kintyre even further. I am therefore delighted to announce that from next year, the 51km section of the A83 between Kennacraig and Campbeltown is set to become a trunk road, with operation and maintenance the responsibility of Transport Scotland."

(JP/CD)