The final phase of the A77 Improvement Scheme is to commence later this month.

The £10.6m Symington and Bogend Toll scheme will improve access for road users.

Contractor R J McLeod are carrying out the works and include widening the existing junctions, closing central reservations between Spittal Interchange and Dutch House roundabout and connecting the flyover bridges. The main scheme itself will provide safer access to the A77 by removing the need for right hand turns across the busy stretch of road.

The works are scheduled to commence on 20 January and will last for approximately eight weeks. Work will include:

• The A77 Southbound will be reduced to one lane for approximately two weeks from 20 January 2014 to allow improvement works to accesses and layby.
• The A77 Northbound will be reduced to one lane for approximately three weeks during February 2014 to allow improvement works to accesses and laybys.
• A77 Southbound and Northbound fast lane closures will then be undertaken for approximately two weeks to allow improvement works to the central reservation.

John Quail, Project Manager at Transport Scotland said: "As advised in December 2013, these works mark the start of the final phase of this important scheme to improve safety on the A77.

"The works will see right hand turns replaced with flyover junctions. In order to complete the works it is necessary to implement traffic management measures which will result in some lane closures to southbound and northbound traffic, as well as closures to the central reservation.

"We have planned these lane closures carefully to minimise the impact on the local community and travelling public but some delays are inevitable."

Transport Scotland added that the project remains on target to be completed in summer 2014.

(JP/IT)