Dumfriesshire MSP Elaine Murray and Mid and Upper Nithsdale Councillors Jim Dempster and John Syme are increasing pressure on the Scottish Government and Transport Scotland to give higher priority to continuing roadwork’s on a landslip prone area of the A76.
Roadwork’s have been ongoing on the A76 at Enterkinfoot, between Sanquhar and Carronbridge, for some time as a result of embankment distress. This has limited the stretch to single lane usage, and despite over 3,000 vehicles using the stretch of road each day, the convoy system is scheduled to remain until investigation work is complete in winter 2016.
Scotland TranServ, Transport Scotland’s operating company in the South of Scotland, will not undertake ground investigation until April 2016, a slope stability assessment until autumn 2016 and will not be releasing the scheme assessment report until winter 2016.
A number of constituents have been in touch with Dr Murray and Councillors Dempster and Syme to express their frustration with the major delays resulting from the road works.
Dumfriesshire MSP Elaine Murray said:
“I understand my constituents’ frustration about this whole situation. Delays have already been caused by road works for several weeks, and now we’re being told that we’ll simply have to put up with them for at least another year. The reason that so many local people are angry is that if this was a trunk road in the central belt, the Scottish Government would be quick to push for action and repairs would be given the highest of priorities. Instead, our local area is once again being pushed down the agenda.”
Cllr Jim Dempster added:
“The A76 is crucial for our local economy in Upper Nithsdale and it’s important that repair works should be carried out to prevent further landslips. But the truth is that local people are being burdened with major delays for longer periods of time than they should be, potentially five years in total at this location. The responsibility for this protracted delay lies with the Scottish Transport Minister who appears to be content to “let matter lie” and in my opinion this is simply not acceptable.”
Cllr John Syme continued:
“Over 3,000 vehicles a day are using this stretch of the A76. That includes local people going to and from work, haulage vehicles and HGV’s, and students travelling to and from Dumfries. Scotland Transerv need to start treating this like the major trunk road it is, instead of dillydallying like it’s some dirt road that no one uses.”
Landslide Action Plan for A76 available here: https://www.transportscotland.gov.uk/road/maintenance/south-west-unit-landslide-action-plan
Traffic flow between Thornhill and Enterkinfoot averaged 3363 vehicles per day in 2014. Source: https://www.dft.gov.uk/traffic-counts/cp.php?la=Dumfries+and+Galloway#30753
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