A major infrastructure contract to improve the vital South West A77 route has been awarded and will bring added economic benefits during construction, national transport agency Transport Scotland has announced.

Wills Bros Civil Engineering Limited has been awarded the £31.5m construction contract to build the Maybole Bypass on the A77.

Michael Matheson, Cabinet Secretary for Transport, Infrastructure and Connectivity said: "The local community will benefit from opportunities created for small and medium enterprises to bid for subcontractor roles and the provision of at least four vocational and seven professional, site-based training opportunities. The contractor anticipates that the project could employ up to 165 people, during the months of peak construction activity, a number of which are created by the project.

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"We recognise the strategic importance of providing good transport links on the major routes to the key port at Cairnryan.

"Today's announcement continues to build upon the significant investment already delivered across ten improvement projects since 2007 on the A77 and A75. 

"Delivering the Maybole Bypass will provide better journey time reliability for road users as well as improved safety and environmental benefits for the local community."

The project will include a new 5km bypass and associated junctions. The bypass will separate local traffic from those travelling longer distances, including to the port.