Chamber and committees

Sharon Dowey MSP submission of 8 September 2021

PE1610/JJ: Upgrade the A75/PE1657/FF: A77 upgrade

The A77 is the main route from the central belt to the Port at Cairnryan and on to Northern Ireland, yet time and time again this essential route has been passed over for much-needed upgrades. 

It carries approximately £10million worth of goods between Ayr and the ferry ports every single day, yet once motorists cross the boundary into South Ayrshire they are met with speed restrictions and roundabouts. Once past Ayr, the condition of the road deteriorates significantly into a single carriageway which passes through a number of towns and villages. For a route used by numerous heavy goods vehicles every single day, as well as all tourist and private traffic heading for Northern Ireland, this is simply unacceptable.   

This lack of decent local infrastructure is also having a negative impact on local investment. Ayrshire is left behind, with deprivation scores and child poverty levels in the county being much higher than the national average.   

The road at Glenapp is now in its second year of being restricted to one way traffic, controlled by traffic lights while the Carlock wall is constructed. 

We may be trying to reduce our carbon footprint, but even electric cars need a road to drive on, and this one is not fit for purpose. As a former member of the Scottish Government said ‘we are not anti roads, we are anti emissions’. This road is in desperate need of upgrading to improve its safety. Motorists searching for the main highway to Northern Ireland do not expect to be hit with the restrictions and roadworks they face when driving on the A77. This prompts them to take risks which ultimately prove fatal. Historically there has been a high number of crashes on the A77. Between 2000 and 2020, 1103 crashes occurred on the road, 43 of these being fatal, 225 serious and 4 very serious. More recently, just last month (August 2021), another 2 lives were lost on this road. 

Given the importance of connectivity and road safety, I would urge you to write to the Cabinet Secretary for Net Zero, Energy and Transport requesting an update on the progress of the Strategic Transport Projects Review 2. It is disappointing that we have not made further progress on this despite numerous requests for information from various parties.

The diversions being put in place when this happens causes numerous HGVs to be diverted down country roads, often through small villages, causing additional wear and tear, congestion and pollution to these routes, which were not constructed to take the heavy volume of traffic that the diversions cause. 

Sometimes, seeing something for yourself lets you understand the situation better. I am more than happy to take you from Ayr to Cairnryan to let you see why we badly need the investment in this road, and why it is having a detrimental impact on our area.