A75 upgrade project delay blasted

‘BITTER disappointment’ has been expressed over a decision not to fund upgrades to a crash blackspot stretch of trunk road west of Annan.

Dumfriesshire MSP Dr Elaine Murray has voiced frustration that the Scottish Government has not awarded funding for a long-delayed improvement scheme between Hardgrove and Kinmount on the A75.

While welcoming news of a £50 million funding package which will help pay for the Dunragit Bypass on the A75, the Shadow Transport Minister said: “The SNP have once again let down the people of Dumfriesshire, as there is no mention anywhere in their budget of the planned A75 Hardgrove to Kinmount improvement scheme or any money to take forward the points in the A76 Action Plan.

“These are key investments that would make a real difference to Dumfriesshire and it is bitterly disappointing that the demands of local people continue to be met with silence from the SNP.”

Funds were set aside by the previous Scottish Government administration for work on the Hardgrove to Kinmount section to begin in 2006-07. However, delays with publishing the Draft Orders and objections to those orders meant this did not happen.

Explaining a decision last February to call off the scheme, Transport Minister Keith Brown MSP cited the ‘unprecedented £1.3 billion cut to our capital budgets’, but said: “Schemes which have completed their statutory process such as the Hardgrove to Kinmount Improvement will be prepared so that they are ready to be taken forward at the earliest possible opportunity.”

The Dunragit bypass is targeted for completion in 2015.



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