Scottish Conservatives Call for Urgent Road Upgrades After Holyrood Election
The Scottish Conservatives have demanded that the upgrade of several critical roads across Scotland must be fast-tracked following the Holyrood election. Leader Russell Findlay has unveiled proposals to urgently dual two main roads in the south-west, targeting communities that have suffered due to a lack of investment in infrastructure improvements.
Key Roads in Focus: A75 and A77
The A75 and A77 are both considered essential cross-UK trunk roads, linking the south-west of Scotland to northern England and Northern Ireland via the Cairnryan ferry. During a visit to Ayrshire and Dumfries and Galloway, Mr Findlay accused the SNP of repeatedly breaking promises to fully dual these routes, as well as others like the A9 between Perth and Inverness and the A96 connecting Inverness and Aberdeen.
He argued that the failure to deliver these improvements has led to numerous accidents and hindered economic growth. ‘Year after year, John Swinney’s useless SNP has broken its repeated promises to upgrade Scotland’s lifeline roads,’ Mr Findlay stated. ‘I’ve seen the impact on communities here in Ayrshire and Dumfries and Galloway with the A77 and A75. But it’s the same sorry story across the country.’
Safety Concerns and Economic Impact
Official statistics from the Scottish Government reveal that between January 1, 2019, and January 1, 2024, there were seven fatal accidents on the A75, with emergency services alerted to 138 incidents involving injuries. The route was previously identified as a critical economic link in the UK Government’s Union Connectivity Review.
Last year, Chancellor Rachel Reeves announced £3.45 million in funding for the Scottish Government to outline options for upgrading the road. However, progress has been slow, with the dualling of the A9 delayed by a decade from its original 2025 completion date, and the A96 project dependent on ‘confirmation of funding.’
Proposed Emergency Legislation
The Scottish Tories are advocating for an emergency law to fast-track the dualling of the A75, A77, A9, and A96, along with remaining sections of the A1 from Edinburgh to London. This proposal includes:
- Establishing a bespoke procurement process to address industry concerns about risk balance in previous contracts.
- Overriding legislative hurdles that currently impede these projects.
‘Our number one priority is to get Scotland working by growing the economy, which is why we would urgently upgrade these key routes,’ Mr Findlay emphasized. ‘If the SNP win a majority in May, this work will continue to stall, which is why voters should use their peach ballot paper to back the Scottish Conservatives.’
SNP Response and Defence
In response, SNP candidate for Galloway & West Dumfries, Emma Harper, highlighted significant investments already made. ‘While there is work to be done, we have brought forward significant investment to ensure five major improvements on the A77, totalling £64 million, and six on the A75, at a total value of more than £50 million,’ she said. ‘The Tories’ plans are barely worth the fag packet they were written on. The SNP is committed to improving road infrastructure throughout Scotland as a key factor in securing economic growth.’
Last month, the Scottish Government noted it is investing nearly £1.2 billion to ensure the motorway and trunk road network is safe, resilient, and efficient, while progressing the A9 dualling project. Transport Secretary Fiona Hyslop commented: ‘Transport is a fundamental part of daily life for people of all ages across Scotland. It underpins nearly every aspect of economic activity, but its impact extends far beyond economics.’
She added that measures like removing peak rail fares and freezing ticket prices aim to help households retain income and encourage sustainable travel, contributing to climate goals. ‘Major infrastructure programmes including dualling of the A9, upgrading of our ports and harbours, and investment in modernising our ferry fleet play a central role in the delivery of our economic growth,’ Hyslop concluded.
