Drivers warned to drive their car for 'two and a half hours' in November

Drivers have been forced to take a "record-breaking" two and a half hour detour to avoid roadworks, it has been warned. John Cooper MP has warned his constituents in Dumfries and Galloway would be "setting a new record" due to a 96-mile diversion.

He said traffic cones in November would close the A75 and force them to make a 40-minute journey last an eye-watering two hours and 30 minutes. He added: "While transport is devolved to the Scottish Parliament, I raise the issue here because the A75, grandly titled the Euro Route, although it's often more akin to a cart track, has significance for every one of our constituents.

"Sir Peter Hendy's Union Connectivity Review identified the A75 as the key link between Northern Ireland, Scotland and England, as it serves the busy ferry port of Cairnryan in my constituency. It's of UK-wide importance." Cooper, who represents the Conservatives in Parliament, added that the A77, another road which services the Cairnryan port, could be a "record breaker".

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The 57-year-old, who was elected as an MP in July's General Election, added: "Scotland's First Minister has agreed to visit Galloway to discuss roads from hell which are screaming out for investment beyond mere patch-ups. £5million in the Budget for the A75 is a start. I've invited the Secretary of State for Scotland to drive the A75 and the A77 too.

"He says his busy schedule will not allow. But might someone to the Department for Transport make time to see how awful these unenviable record breaking roads are?" A spokesperson told the BBC : "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."