Born in 1946 and brought up in Cupar, Fife, I was educated at the local school - 
A £5 million package of vital improvements to the A76 at Glenairlie will lead to safer and faster journeys for road users in the South West of Scotland, Transport Minister Stewart Stevenson said today.
The Minister was speaking during a visit to mark the commissioning of the project.
In addition to new safe overtaking opportunities provided for road users following construction of a wide single carriageway over a 3km stretch to the A76 south of Mennock village, part of the existing A76 has been de-trunked and converted into a dedicated cycle track.
Mr Stevenson said:
"This is an important scheme for communities across the South West and we are pleased this upgrade has been completed on time and on budget.
"This is a vital package of improvements which will speed up journey times, promote safety and improve connections.
"As Minister for Climate Change I am delighted to also see that this investment has also delivered a new dedicated cycle path which will be great for the environment and great for people's health."
As part of the work, the 50 mph speed limit at Mennock has been extended, ensuring drivers are obliged to slow down earlier before entering the village from the south.
The widened carriageway offers alternating overtaking lanes, providing dedicated overtaking southbound for 800 metres and northbound for 1270 metres, separated by a transition zone prohibiting overtaking for 350 metres.
All of the material excavated from the site of the new road during construction was reused during the works and nothing was taken to landfill.
Material from existing junctions was used on nearby farm access tracks, while topsoil was reused around the site.
In order to improve pollution protection measures in the area, a sustainable drainage system has been installed over the length of the project, ensuring water from the carriageway does not directly run into water courses. Otter tunnels have also been built to allow the animals to safely pass under the road and mammal fencing has been erected to protect animal life.
Transport Scotland's Strategic Road Safety Unit will facilitate and oversee a review of speed limits on trunk road routes by 2011. Operating company Amey is currently undertaking this process for all South West area trunk roads, including the A76, and a report will be submitted to Transport Scotland in 2009.
Transport Scotland will consider the findings of this report before deciding what, if any, changes to the speed limit on the route are appropriate.
For more information see A76 Glenairlie Improvement Scheme Project
Karen Adam is now the MSP for Banffshire and Buchan Coast
