Major upgrade package for A75

A £25.4 million investment package to upgrade a key South West trunk road and a vital route for the Scottish economy as a whole has taken a significant step forward today.

Transport Scotland has published a series of draft statutory orders for two important schemes on the A75 – the Dunragit by-pass and the upgrade to the Hardgrove section.

Transport Minister Stewart Stevenson said:

"This Scottish Government is committed to providing a first class transport network which will support and grow our economy and I am delighted that these projects are moving another step closer to delivery.

"This multi-million pound investment will greatly improve traffic flow and connections – particularly between Scotland and Northern Ireland through better access to the ports of Stranraer and Cairnryan.

"These schemes, in addition to investments we are making elsewhere on the network, will make the A75 a safer route, whilst opening up opportunities for businesses and communities across the South West, of Scotland and beyond."

The £15.9 million Dunragit by-pass scheme, to the east of Stranraer, will help make Dunragit safer by removing trunk road traffic from the village.

A new 5.3 kilometre stretch of trunk road will be created; providing safe overtaking opportunities in both the east and westbound directions, whilst greatly improving traffic flow and journey times.

Additionally, the scheme will incorporate the needs of cyclists and pedestrians by providing safe crossing points and a dedicated underpass for cyclists and non-motorised users to travel under the trunk road.

The scheme will also mean the local bus service, which stops in Dunragit, will benefit from using a de-trunked route with lighter traffic levels.

Similarly, the £9.5 million Hardgrove project, between Carrutherstown and Upper Mains Farm in Dumfries and Galloway, will see a new 3.6 kilometre stretch of the A75 providing improved overtaking facilities in both the east and westbound directions.

The work will improve traffic flow by allowing faster moving vehicles to overtake platoons of slower vehicles; reducing driver frustration and improving road safety and journey times. As at Dunragit, the scheme will incorporate the needs of cyclists and pedestrians at by providing safe crossing points.

Transport Scotland has published draft road orders, draft compulsory purchase order and the environmental statement for the Hardgrove upgrade and the supplementary draft compulsory purchase and draft road orders for the Dunragit by-pass schemes, giving people and businesses the chance to formally object.

The 159 kilometres long A75 Gretna-Dumfries-Stranraer route is a main link in Scotland’s transport network carrying around 10,000 vehicles each day.

Serving communities and businesses across the South West, the A75 connects South Ayrshire with Dumfries and Galloway, through Annan and Gretna, and links ferry terminals at Stranraer with the M74 and A77.

Transport Scotland invested over £9 million last year to improve the A75 by widening three stretches of the road between Barfil and Bettyknowes, at Newton Stewart and between Planting End and Drumflower to allow safe overtaking opportunities.

It is estimated work will start on both projects in 2009/10 and be completed in 2010/11.

Details of the Dunragit Road Orders and the Environmental Statement and Road Orders for the Hardgrove Project, can be viewed by clicking on the following links:

• A75 Dunragit Bypass Project
• A75 Hardgrove Project

Road accidents at 50-year low

The number of deaths and serious injuries on Scotland's roads fell to their lowest level for more than 50 years in 2007, according to latest statistics released today.

Transport Minister Stewart Stevenson welcomed the new figures, but said that the Scottish Government would not be complacent and would continue to do all it can to reduce accidents even further.

Provisional statistics for the UK from the UK Department for Transport show 282 people died on Scotland's roads in 2007 (a 10 per cent decrease from 2006), with 2,315 people seriously injured (12 per cent fewer than 2006).

A full breakdown for Scotland will be published on Monday when provisional statistics for Scotland-only are published.

Commenting on the DfT statistics, Mr Stevenson said:

"These are encouraging statistics and I welcome the fall. However, we cannot and will not be complacent.

"It is clear that we can all do more to get our road safety messages across to people of all ages and all driving abilities.

"Road fatalities may be at their lowest level for more than 50 years, but 282 people dying on our roads is still 282 too many.

"The Scottish Government wants to do all we can to reduce that number even further and stop the heartache being experienced by too many families across the country.

"We are currently working with the some of the leading thinkers on road safety from across Scotland and Europe to help inform a new Road Safety Strategy for Scotland which will be published later this year.

"The DfT is also consulting on plans to change the driver training and testing regime which I welcome - legislative change and updating the driver testing system will be important tools in our efforts to reduce accidents.

"Meanwhile, I would urge drivers to heed the warnings, not to be complacent, and to drive safely."

Scotland figures contained in this publication are based on a snapshot of data taken on April 25 this year.

STEVENSON CONGRATULATES BANFF ACADEMY ON ENGINEERING AWARD

Banff & Buchan MSP Stewart Stevenson this week congratulated Banff Academy on winning the Young Engineers Club of the Year at the Scottish Council for Development and Industry’s (SCDI) Celebration of Engineering Awards.

The Celebration of Engineering held at the Crowne Plaza Hotel and the Glasgow Science Centre saw a record entry of 60 Clubs from all over Scotland. Twenty-seven companies set technology challenges with numerous guests coming along to view the action. In all, over 600 schools pupils, teachers and companies took part, a record for the event.

Commenting on their award Mr Stevenson said:

“This is a fantastic achievement for Banff Academy and fully reflective of the hardwork and innovative spirit of the schools pupils and the coordinator David Pirie. Banff Academy has set a high standard over the last few years in fomenting a steady supply of creative and talented individuals and has become a model for what can be achieved when there is a strong network of support and encouragement from teaching staff.

“The skills that are developed in engineering clubs such as that at Banff Academy give a platform for hands on involvement in projects that can develop a number of technical and practical skills.

“The record number of participants in this year’s event shows that engineering and science subjects are exciting and enjoyable and a worthy subject to study in greater depth, be it in a vocational setting or in Further Education.

“We are always trying to harness the vast potential that Scotland has for innovation and the work of teachers such as David Pirie has to be lauded and indeed mimicked in other schools.

“There should also be a note of congratulations for SCDI and the partner organizations behind the event as it is awards like these that gives clubs such as the one at Banff Academy the opportunity to showcase their talent and be recognized for their achievements.”