Driver fury over 96-mile diversion on major road causing two-hour delays with 'unusually heavy traffic'

Motorists are now being forced to take a lengthy detour via Ayr, turning a typical 40-minute trip into a gruelling two-and-a-half-hour ordeal.

The closures, in effect from 8pm to 6am, are part of improvement works scheduled to continue until Sunday morning, with additional closures planned for late October.

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Local residents and frequent travellers have expressed frustration over the disruption, citing safety concerns and significant impacts on daily life and planned events in the area.

The A75, a crucial route connecting Gretna to the Belfast ferries at Cairnryan, is undergoing nightly closures between Newton Stewart and Castle Douglas.

Road maintenance firm Amey has implemented these closures from 8pm to 6am for improvement works. The current phase at Auchenlarie follows initial work at Mossyard, with further closures planned from October 28 to November 2.

Amey claims to have minimised disruption, but locals argue otherwise. Liz Hitschmann of Gatehouse of Fleet reported to the BBC: "On the first night that the closure happened, there were no diversion signs in place. So the lorries were queued up all the way from Auchenlarie right the way back to Gatehouse which is some two to three miles."

The lack of proper signage has exacerbated the situation, forcing heavy goods vehicles onto unsuitable local roads.

Local residents have voiced their concerns about the closures' impact on community life. A campaigner from Gatehouse of Fleet, highlighted the effect on evening meetings.

She said: “A lot of people coming from the west side of Galloway couldn't actually attend because the road closure meant them driving little single track-type roads going home."

She added that future meetings had been cancelled due to safety concerns on narrow roads at night. Meanwhile, another person who lives near the A75, noted increased traffic on minor roads: "The inconvenience to locals is the unusually heavy traffic late into the night, in what is normally a very quiet area when the content of the A75 turns up on your doorstep."

The closures have also impacted events like the Wigtown Book Festival, with attendees reporting difficulties navigating the area.

The diversion route has forced drivers onto minor roads, causing significant issues. These alternative routes are often single-track, unlit, and unsuitable for heavy goods vehicles. A regular traveller from Northern Ireland expressed frustration: "We try to take local roads around which often end up in us travelling on very unsuitable roads."

Another local resident highlighted the wear and tear on these minor roads, which receive little maintenance.

The inadequate signage has compounded the problem, with Pete Barraclough from North Yorkshire reporting: "There was no signage on the A75 warning that it would close at 20:00 and no diversion signage when it did."

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A spokesperson for Amey said: "The dates of the work were arrived at in consultation with residents and businesses on this route, and special access arrangements have been made for them.

"The original programme dates for this work were moved back to a time considered more suitable and less disruptive in response to this consultation. As well as local engagement there has been extensive discussion with ferry operators, the haulage industry, and the emergency services to mitigate the impact of this scheme."