JUST two weeks after the last closure, the A77 was shut again for 12 hours resulting in a 75-minute detour for traffic heading north of the Loch Ryan Port.

The road was closed on Monday, November 6, between Girvan and Cairnryan following the 24-hour closure of the A77 due to severe flooding on October 21 when the port was in virtual lockdown mode for over 24 hours.

The closure last week was pre-scheduled to facilitate remedial landslip road works, making this the fifth time this year the road was closed.
Stena Line fully support the A77 Action Group who are campaigning for a dual carriage way from Stranraer to Ayr.

Paul Grant, Stena Line’s Trade Director (Irish Sea North) said: “While we appreciate that remedial work needed to be carried out on this section of road due to a previous landslip issue, the cumulative effect of ongoing disruptions is becoming more and more debilitating on our day to day port operations at Loch Ryan. 

“Five major disruptions already in 2017 is a major concern to us and the various businesses and tourism initiatives we help to support.

“We have voiced our concerns to the Scottish Government on a number of occasions and would again urge the Transport Minister and his colleagues to prioritise an Action Plan for the road infrastructure improvements to and from Loch Ryan.

“The simple fact of the matter is that this economic driver for the South of Scotland has not attracted the level of road infrastructure investment it should have done over the years.

“The time has now come to find a long-term solution rather than piece-meal tweaks which fail to address the root problem, accessibility. Poor road access and poor rail connections continue to impede the Scottish economy.”

The A77 Action Group will continue to work to make better roads in the South West of Scotland so that area gets full benefit of investment initiatives like the Ayrshire and Borderlands Growth Deals. Meetings will be held this week at Holyrood.