Letter from Cabinet Secretary for Transport Fiona Hyslop to John Cooper MP - 26 June 2025

Our Reference: 202500470813

Your Reference: JC00459

Dear John

A75 / A77 Roads

Thank you for your correspondence of 5 June 2025. Regarding your correspondence of 1 May 2025, I understand that a response to your letter was issued on 6 June 2025 with Transport Scotland’s reference 202500464311.

The strategic importance of the A75 and A77 to Scotland’s economy is recognised by this government, and we value the critical link it provides to the wider markets in the rest of the UK and Europe by connecting the ports at Cairnryan to the wider trunk road network.

As you know, recommendation 40 in the second Strategic Transport Projects Review (STPR2) recommends that safety, resilience and reliability improvements are made to both routes. This will include, but is not limited to improving junctions, enhancing overtaking opportunities and widening or realigning carriageways to alleviate ‘pinch points’ such as narrow structures or at stretches of older standard single carriageway. Any potential future funding will be dependent on the outcome of the UK Spending Review, recognising the significant financial challenges faced by the United Kingdom as a whole.

The previous commitment by the UK Government to funding of design development work for the A75 is seen as a step in the right direction. However, we await the detail and implications of the UK’s Capital Spending Review to fully understand the implications on our ability to maintain and invest in the A77 and A75, as well as all of Scotland’s transport infrastructure. In terms of short term solutions, our operating company, Amey, is continuing to implement several road safety improvement schemes along the A75. These measures form part of a wider programme aimed at enhancing safety and reducing delays along the A75 corridor.

In March 2022, the Cuckoo Bridge roundabout was resurfaced, and new spiral road markings were introduced. Signalisation of the roundabout is programmed to commence later this year. Works were recently introduced at the Haugh of Urr junction which involved the installation of new electronic vehicle-activated signs to warn of queuing traffic at the junction. We are aware that part of the infrastructure has been struck by an errant vehicle, however, repairs are currently being programmed to bring the system back into operation. Future works include vegetation management that improve sightlines and overall visibility, as well as a review of the existing signage, including the relocation of signs to more prominent locations.

A new electronic sign is to be introduced to warn eastbound drivers of traffic queuing to turn right toward Mouswald near Linns Road.

In 2024, the section of the A75 from B735 (by Shennanton) to where St Couan's Road connects to the A75 (by Newton Stewart) was identified for further investigation. This section will be investigated in the 2025/26 financial year.

Across Scotland, safety cameras are deployed through the Scottish Safety Camera Programme primarily where they have the greatest potential to reduce injury collisions and where there is evidence of both collisions and speeding. This is in accordance with criteria contained in the Scottish Safety Camera Programme Handbook.

An annual site prioritisation process is undertaken each year to determine new safety camera sites across our road network. This national exercise acts to ensure the right camera technology is in the right place at the right time. It involves a range of partners including the three regional safety camera units, all thirty-three road authorities and Police Scotland, and acts to identify potential new camera sites which meet the minimum criteria, while at the same time assessing the performance of existing enforcement strategies.

There is one mobile enforcement location at Crocketford, in addition to 21 additional mobile enforcement locations along the full length of the A75. The most recent safety camera site prioritisation process did not identify Springholm as a location which meets minimum site selection requirements. In February 2024, the West Safety Camera Unit considered whether a change of technology would be appropriate along the route and at that point, the current enforcement strategy was maintained. As part of site selection 2024/25, a further review is underway to determine whether average speed cameras would be an appropriate technology change on the A75. Design and investigations are underway to deploy a temporary average speed camera (TASC) system between Newton Stewart and Creetown. This would replace existing mobile enforcement locations and will be used as a temporary technology change. This will inform the benefit of this type of technology on the A75 although noting that not all collisions can be directly attributed to excessive speed. Inappropriate driver behaviours can also have an impact on the road environment and these behaviours may not be impacted by camera enforcement.

Regarding the fatal accidents at Skyreburn and between Castle Douglas and Bridge of Dee, as standard policy with all fatal accidents, Transport Scotland arrange to meet at the accident locus with Police Scotland and our Operating Company to obtain more information on the incident and to identify if there is a need for a further road safety investigation. We have held one of these meetings and anticipate holding the second one by the end of June 2025. As police investigations into these accidents are on-going it would be inappropriate to comment further at this time.

As mentioned in my letter of 6 June 2025, I thank you for your kind invitation to meet. Regrettably, I will be unable to attend, however, officials from Transport Scotland would be happy to meet with you to discuss your concerns in more detail. Should you wish to take up this offer, please contact Peter Egan, Area Manager for the A75, at Peter.Egan@transport.gov.scot to make the necessary arrangements.

I hope you will find this information helpful.

Yours sincerely

Fiona Hyslop

Cabinet Secretary for Transport