An important phase in the £17.1m Dunragit bypass has been successfully completed, Transport Scotland has said.

The work involved the final beams, which will support the new road bridge over the Glasgow-Stranraer railway line, being lifted into place.

Over the course of the past two weekends, eight 40m-long beams were assembled in pairs before being lifted into position by a mobile crane.

Discussing the work, Transport Minister Keith Brown said: "A high quality transport system is vital to the economic prosperity not just for businesses and communities along the length of this road, but for Scotland as a whole.


"The £17.1 million Dunragit bypass scheme continues our investment in improving connectivity through the south of Scotland, including to and from the Loch Ryan ferry ports, providing a boost for business, leisure and the tourism industries.

"Combining the Dunragit works with other schemes currently underway on the A75 and A77 is providing some £36.7 million worth of investment on these key routes, further enhancing connectivity to our key ports as well as improve safety and journey time reliability."

RJ McLeod is the contractor for the project and is working in partnership with Network to lessen disruption to railway passengers. Work will now commence to complete the bridge deck.

(JP/IT)