A feasibility study is to be carried out into upgrading the A75.
UK Chancellor Jeremy Hunt announced funding – potentially as much as £5 million – for an analysis to be carried out in his autumn statement.
The move was welcomed by Tory politicians but Scotland’s Transport Minister claimed it “isn’t news”.
When the Westminster Government’s Union Connectivity Review was announced last year, it included “a commitment to support a significant upgrade” of the route – despite roads being a devolved matter.
And earlier this year the Scottish Government’s Strategic Transport Review included plans to realign the Euroroute at Springholm and Crocketford.
During his autumn statement, which he gave on Thursday, Mr Hunt announced plans to “drive growth across the UK by working with the Scottish Government on the feasibility study for the A75”.
Dumfries and Galloway MP and Scottish Secretary Alister Jack said: “The need for improvements to the A75, which impacts on the lives of so many residents in our region and those passing through, has been a constant concern amongst my constituents and a detailed study will be a necessary and significant step forward.
“As Sir Peter Hendy’s team highlighted last year in the Union Connectivity Review, the road is also of importance to the entire UK and for an efficient international transport system.
“Coming at a time when the UK and many other countries are facing significant economic challenges, the study decision reflects the strategic importance being placed across Government on the A75.
“This is the right way forward. It remains important, however, that the Scottish Government look positively on this study and co-operate in taking any A75 improvement projects forward.”
Galloway and West Dumfries Tory MSP Finlay Carson claimed the announcement represented £5 million being invested in the study.
He said: “This is wonderful news for the south west corner of Scotland, one my Scottish Conservative colleagues and I have been campaigning for so long now.
“The funding will allow a feasibility study to take place to look at areas where the Scottish Government has not identified where upgrading should take place.
“I warmly welcome this announcement as it will now move things along at a far quicker pace than originally envisaged.
“The SNP have ignored the south west of Scotland far too long.”
But the announcement was dismissed by a spokesperson for Scotland’s Transport Minister, Jenny Gilruth.
“This demonstrates what we in Scotland have known for some time – the Tories over promise and can’t be trusted to deliver for the people and businesses of the south west of Scotland. The fact is that we have been engaging collaboratively with UK Government counterparts now for some time and actively working on the business case for A75 improvements. So this isn’t news.
“Until now, the UK Government has failed to commit any funding for design or development work on the A75. Until we actually see the colour of their money, we will continue to focus on our proposals for future investment that we set out in the draft second Strategic Transport Projects Review that was published in January.”
