Roads firm defends 96-mile diversion route

Road maintenance firm Amey has defended a 96-mile (150km) diversion in place overnight to upgrade a key route through southern Scotland.

Work is currently ongoing to improve stretches of the A75 in Dumfries and Galloway at Auchenlarie and Mossyard.

It means total overnight closures between 20:00 and 06:00 with traffic diverted via Girvan and Dalmellington in Ayrshire.

Amey said the carriageway had reached the end of its operational life and the diversion route had been agreed with the council and emergency services.

The A75 runs between Gretna and Stranraer and is a main route for traffic going to and from the ferry ports at Cairnryan.

The diversion route takes traffic off the road between Castle Douglas and Newton Stewart and up almost as far as Ayr.

Amey has advised drivers that it could take up to two-and-a-half hours to complete the diversion.

It has prompted criticism on social media with the diversion described as "absolutely ridiculous" and likely to cause "a lot of problems".

Another said it was "bad management and dangerous" to send heavy goods vehicles along the roads involved and suggested a convoy system would have been better.

Amey said it was carrying out the work to prevent the road deteriorating further during winter which would cause "more extensive disruption and inconvenience".

"The dates of the work were arrived at in consultation with residents and businesses on this route, and special access arrangements have been made for them," said a spokesperson.

"The original programme dates for this work were moved back to a time considered more suitable and less disruptive in response to this consultation.

"As well as local engagement there has been extensive discussion with ferry operators, the haulage industry, and the emergency services to mitigate the impact of this scheme."

The company said that the diversion route had been chosen to be "suitable for all types of vehicles, including HGVs" and had been used before.

“By working overnight, and off-peak, every attempt has been made to reduce disruption," the spokesperson added.

However, the firm said the work had to be delivered this way to protect road users and workers and it represented a £700,000 investment.

The work at Mossyard continues until Friday before moving to Auchenlarie in two phases.

One will see total overnight closures between 7 and 12 October before they are paused for half-term holidays and then resume between 28 October and 2 November.