Resurfacing work on the A75 west of Kirkcowan in Dumfries and Galloway has been postponed after three trucks reportedly left the road while using a nighttime diversion.
The 29-mile diversion directed traffic from Wigtown Roundabout south towards Wigtown, before following the B7085 to Port William and the A747 to rejoin the A75 west of Barlae.
Local hauliers branded the route unsafe and unfit for purpose after the incidents.
Amey, on behalf of Transport Scotland, had begun reconstruction work on the A75, with the scheme originally scheduled to continue until Tuesday 24 November 2026.
However, Amey confirmed the work had been postponed. In a statement, it said: “The A75 West of Kirkcowan resurfacing scheme has been postponed. The road has re-opened, and the signed diversion is no longer in operation. However, the temporary traffic lights currently installed will remain in place.
“We are meeting with operational stakeholders to consider a review of the traffic management arrangements before the scheme proceeds further. A new programme of works will be announced in due course. Further updates will be provided via our website at www.swtrunkroads.scot.”
Sam Millar, who runs Millar Transport in Stranraer, uses the A75 daily to haul trailers to and from Cairnryan port. He welcomed the decision.“I understand that the road needs to be closed for safety, but they have to consider the safety of the drivers using the diversion route,” he said.
J Richardson Transport, which operates 12 trucks from Stoneykirk, near Stranraer, also uses the A75 daily. Transport manager Anna Richardson described the diversion as unfit for purpose.
“We have one or two trucks that go through the diversion at night, and the drivers said it’s been a nightmare,” she said.
Richardson said a convoy system allowing HGVs to pass through the roadworks would be a more practical solution, avoiding the lengthy diversion and helping to limit the financial impact on local hauliers.
Finlay Carson, MSP for Galloway and West Dumfries, said he had spoken to Transport Scotland and cabinet secretary for economy, tourism and transport Stephen Flynn.
In a statement on Facebook, he said: “I’m really delighted that I’ve now had Transport Scotland contact me to say that the overnight closures have been postponed.
“That comes in the back of concerns about the shocking scenes we saw last night, with HGVs on their sides while taking a completely inappropriate route for heavy goods vehicles.
“We’ve got a commitment that there’ll be no further overnight closures until the risk assessment has been done for using these diversion routes and also looking at other ways that we can keep the traffic flowing to Cairnryan.”
