Options Identified for DMRB Stage 2

We are now working to develop route options considering constraints identified nearby. These include:

• Land holdings, properties and businesses
• Ancient woodland
• Environmentally designated sites such as Milton Loch Site of Special Scientific Interest
• Ground conditions, including areas of peat
• Floodplains
• Bridges
• The existing road network, including junctions, local roads and accesses.

The route options lie within the improvement strategies taken forward to DMRB Stage 2. There are also potential hybrid route options which we will be considering.

The cross section of the road is also being considered, including:

• Single carriageway (one lane in each direction)
• Single carriageway with climbing lane (additional lane provided on uphill sections to allow slower-moving vehicles to maintain speed without obstructing faster traffic)
• Wide single 2+1 carriageway (typically two lanes in one direction and one lane in the opposite direction to allow for safe overtaking manoeuvres.)
• Dual carriageway (typically two lanes in each direction)

Route options will be assessed against criteria, including but not limited to:

• Scheme objectives
• Engineering including engineering characteristics, constraints and complexity
• Environment including potential impacts, likely mitigation and key issues
• Traffic and economics including traffic modelling and forecasting, the effects of options and economic performance of options.

As part of route options development, we are carefully considering access requirements for the settlements of Springholm and Crocketford, properties and land from the realigned A75.

More detailed information on this will be presented at future exhibition events once further design development has progressed. This will be informed by feedback we receive from members of the public and other stakeholders at or following this event.