The Scottish Government has said it will “continue to press” the UK Government to fund future upgrades to the A75 and A77, responding to renewed calls to dual the A75 between Gretna and Cairnryan.
Dumfries and Galloway MP John Cooper and Logistics UK’s policy lead for Scotland Alexandra Herdman urged ministers to dual the 95-mile A75, arguing it would boost economic growth and improve road safety.
A Transport Scotland spokesperson said the government recognised the A75’s strategic importance to Scotland’s economy, adding: “That is why we have invested more than £15 million in 2025/26 in critical safety, maintenance and infrastructure improvements on the A75 and A77.”
However, the spokesperson again pointed to the UK Government to fund major upgrades, citing Lord Hendy’s Union Connectivity Review, published in November 2021, which recommended Westminster should “offer funding to support the upgrade of the A75 to improve journeys between Northern Ireland and Great Britain”.
“We are committed to improving safety, resilience and reliability on the A75 for everyone using it, including freight operators. The UK Government has committed funding that will enable us to complete the initial work to consider bypass options for Springholm and Crocketford on the A75,” the spokesperson said.
“Given the importance of this key route to Scotland, Northern Ireland and the rest of the UK, as recognised in Lord Hendy’s Union Connectivity Review, we will continue to press the UK Government to fund future stages of design and construction of this important project.”
The spokesperson added that Transport Scotland officials met campaign groups in April to discuss improvements to the A75 and A77, providing an update on work under way to progress both schemes.
