Born in 1946 and brought up in Cupar, Fife, I was educated at the local school - 
A £6.5 million project to improve access to and from Scotland’s vital west coast ports has moved a step closer with the selection of the contractor to build the 2.3km A75 Cairntop to Barlae scheme.
Transport Minister Stewart Stevenson today announced that RJ Macleod will build the Transport Scotland funded project, which will deliver a 2.3km stretch of dual carriageway in each direction on one of the main trunk roads serving Stranraer and Cairnryan ferry ports.
Transport Minister, Stewart Stevenson said:
"The selection of the contractor to build this scheme is good news for all road users who use this route and is yet another example of our continuing investment in Scotland’s transport infrastructure.
"The Scottish Government has recently invested £29m on improvements to the both A77 and A75 trunk roads and has earmarked a further £60m of planned investment in eight projects which will develop both routes further.
"The A75 is a vital artery to and from our ferry ports in the south west of Scotland and this new contract award - which will support 30 jobs during construction - will provide extra overtaking opportunities and improve traffic flow along the length of road. This will have substantial benefits for all traffic – in particular freight and tourists.
"I’m delighted to announce the selection of the contractor and that the project will soon be moving to construction. Our commitment to improved links across Scotland is clear and the undoubted benefits to be reaped will be felt by communities and businesses along the route and beyond."
The scheme will see a new eastbound carriageway constructed, utilising the line of a dismantled railway line. The existing A75 carriageway will subsequently become the new westbound carriageway.
Works on the A75 Cairntop-Barlae scheme are expected to begin early in the new year.
Karen Adam is now the MSP for Banffshire and Buchan Coast
