Transport Scotland has appointed Causeway Geotech Ltd to carry out a £1.1 million (excluding VAT) ground investigation contract as part of the ongoing A75 Springholm and Crocketford Improvements project.

The works, scheduled to commence in March and expected to last approximately eight weeks, are a vital component of the design and assessment phase. The data gathered will inform the technical evaluation of potential bypass routes for the two villages, which remain the only settlements on the busy Gretna to Stranraer route that have not yet been bypassed.

The project is currently progressing through the Design Manual for Roads and Bridges (DMRB) Stage 2 assessment. This follows the unveiling of initial route options in late 2025, which included potential alignments to the north and south of the villages with various single and dual carriageway configurations.

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Cabinet Secretary for Transport Fiona Hyslop said: "We are committed to improving safety, resilience and reliability for everyone who uses the A75, including freight operators. The design and assessment work is proceeding at pace to consider options for realigning the A75 trunk road with bypasses of Springholm and Crocketford. The villages are the only two settlements along this busy route not to have been bypassed and we are pleased to be taking this work forward to improve the lives of people living, visiting and working in the villages."

She added: "The ground investigation work due to get underway next month will support the assessment work and contribute to the identification of a preferred route option which we expect to confirm in early 2027."

The A75 serves as a critical strategic link between the Port of Cairnryan and the wider UK motorway network. The current scheme is supported by funding from the UK Government's Union Connectivity Development Fund, highlighting the route's importance to international trade and regional connectivity.