This item was published during the term of a previous administration that ended in April 2007
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Work on A78 three-town bypass begins
30/09/2003
Work started today on the new A78 bypass for the Ayrshire towns of Ardrossan, Saltcoats and Stevenston.
Speaking at an official ceremony to mark the start of work, Transport Minister Nicol Stephen said that it marks a significant investment in West Scotland's road transport infrastructure, and that the project should be completed by spring 2005.
Mr Stephen said:
"Traffic congestion in the centre of the three towns will be reduced as a result of the bypass, leading to a better, safer environment and improved journey times. The bypass will mainly be of dual-carriageway standard which will also bring further safety benefits.
"This investment is good news for the people of Ardrossan, Saltcoats and Stevenston. They have been campaining for a bypass for many years and I am pleased to see work now beginning.
Funding for the bypass has come out of the Executive's Motorways and Trunk Roads Budget. The A78 Three-Town Bypass of Ardrossan, Saltcoats and Stevenston was one of 5 major schemes selected for construction in the 1999 Strategic Roads Review.
A separate contract to build a new railway bridge over the bypass at Montfode is currently being tendered.
The project involves the construction of approximately 5 km of new dual-carriageway, 1.4 km of single carriageway with climbing lane, four roundabout junctions and associated side roads together with a number of bridges. The scheme commenced construction on 25 August 2003 and is programmed for completion in early 2005.
The total scheme cost £34m. AWG and Mowlem formed a 'one-off' joint venture to bid for the works in competitive tender with two other construction companies. The contract was awarded to a joint venture between AWG and Mowlem for a fixed sum of £26.2 million. It is a two-year contract to construct the Three-Town Bypass on the A78 in North Ayrshire.