Transport Scotland has completed a comprehensive review of an Action Plan for the A7 road in the Scottish Borders.

Campaigners originally presented their vision of the route to Transport Secretary Humza Yousaf last year.

While some proposals fall outside the scope of Transport Scotland's current work programme, the organisation said it will start work on a pre-appraisal study to help determine the future transport needs in The Borders.

A Route Accident Reduction Plan for the A7 has also been carried out and action is being taken forward to improve safety and operation of the trunk road. The focus is to deliver immediate improvements and an initial investment of over £240,000 is being made.

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As part of the pre-appraisal study, initial work will examine the case for extending the Borders Railway along with improvements to the A1, A7 and A68, which will then be used as input to the Strategic Transport Projects Review.

Transport Minister Humza Yousaf said: "A comprehensive review of the A7 Action plan has been completed by Transport Scotland and we are updating campaigners as to how we can make timely improvements to the safety and operation of the route.

"The programme of work being put forward in the coming months will address many of the issues brought forward by the A7 Action Group and our commitment to the A7 is on-going. Our annual maintenance programme, which has seen investment of more than £23 million since 2007, continues and the A7 is reviewed annually to establish where safety improvements can be made.

"Transport Scotland will be holding further discussions with the A7 Action Group on progress to make sure that they are kept fully up to date and that representatives are given the opportunity to raise any concerns."

(LM/JP)