An £8m Transport Scotland road improvement scheme to upgrade the A7 in Dumfries and Galloway has opened to traffic.

The existing winding road on the east bank of the River Esk near Auchenrivock has been replaced by two miles of new carriageway, improving safety and bringing economic benefits to local communities.

As part of the project, the existing road is to be de-trunked with part of the road converted into a cycle path, giving local people and tourists the opportunity to switch to a more sustainable mode of transport.

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Transport Scotland Project Manager George Laidlaw said: "This has been a major project and we are delighted road users will now see the benefits of the £8 million investment made in this stretch of the A7 south of Langholm.

"The opening of this new section of the A7 at Auchenrivock will be warmly welcomed by the local community and will provide a real boost for the tourist industry and the economy of the south east of Scotland as a whole."

Geoff Lewis, Managing Director DGFirst at Dumfries and Galloway Council added: "This has been a difficult and demanding project, but I am delighted that the DGFirst staff who have been involved in the scheme from inception have made such a significant impact in ensuring that the end result will change the face of transport links in the Langholm area."

(GK/JM)