Two contract notices have been advertised today calling on firms to bid for work on the A77 Maybole Bypass and A9 Berriedale Braes Improvement projects.

The Maybole Bypass notice, which outlines construction costs of approximately £30 million, invites prospective bidders to formally apply to participate in the procurement to construct the bypass.

The successful bidder will be required to build approximately 5.2km of bypass and associated junctions.

Once complete the scheme will separate local road users from those travelling longer distances, including to the key ports of Stranraer and Cairnryan. This will lead to improved road safety for local communities and road users, as well as providing better journey time reliability.

The Berriedale Braes notice, which outlines construction costs of approximately £9m, invites prospective bidders to formally apply to participate in the procurement to construct major improvements to this important route in the north of Scotland.

The project will see improvements to the road alignment and the existing tight hairpin bend.

Once complete the scheme will improve road safety and journey times by removing the need for vehicles to slow down or stop to negotiate the bend.

Minister for transport & islands, Humza Yousaf, said the announcement brings the total value of contracts awarded and advertised over recent months to £174m.

He added: “The Scottish Government remains committed to delivering this strategic link, which serves the Ayrshire and Northern Ireland ferry ports, at the earliest possible opportunity.

“Completion will reduce the congestion within the town, bringing much needed relief for the local Maybole community whilst improving journey times for long distance road users.

“I welcome today’s announcement which along with a contract notice issued for improvement work to the A9 at Berriedale Braes in the far north of Scotland, provides the construction industry with significant contract opportunities.”

Work on both projects is expected to get underway in 2018.

Details of the contracts can be found on ‘Public Contract Scotland’.