DRIVERS are facing a 22 MILE diversion during the closure of one of the area's busiest roads later this week.

Transport chiefs have announced they will shut the A78 between Hunterston and West Kilbride from Thursday.

The 1.2m km section requires essential resurfacing as part of Transport Scotland's trunk road programme and the work will be delivered by Scotland Transerv.

The area affected is between the roundabout at the entrance to Hunterston nuclear power station and Kilrusken Toll (the first turn-off into West Kilbride).

There will be an overnight closure of the A78, followed by a full weekend closure, during the following times: 8pm on Thursday 9th until 6am on Friday July 10, and 8pm on Friday 10th until 6am on Monday July 13.

A 22-mile diversion route will be in place during the periods of closure.

Those drivers requiring to use the A78 for essential journeys are advised to allow an additional 15 minutes of travel time.

Alan Murray, TranServ’s Principal Road Design Engineer, said: “This 1,200m stretch of trunk road is an important route connecting many coastal communities with Glasgow and the central belt.

"As such it is used by emergency services, freight, retail and delivery traffic as part of their essential working.

“It is important that we continue resurfacing works in order to maintain road safety.

"Traffic volumes currently remain low, however we continue to monitor latest Scottish Government advice."

Transerv says that the health and safety of their workers and subcontractors is of the utmost importance .

All workers, and those working on their behalf, will follow strict physical distancing protocols, in line with Scottish Government advice.

Mr Murray added: “Many new working practices have been implemented across our own workforce and those of our contractors and suppliers as we work towards the future delivery of our Structural Maintenance and other programmes.

"Thorough risk assessments have been carried out as we take a lead in the delivery of trunk road maintenance.

“Scotland TranServ would like to take this opportunity to thank drivers for making only essential journeys in recent months, and for playing their part in protecting the country’s key workers.”

For further details of the road closure visit www.scotlandtranserv.co.uk/a78-hunterston-resurfacing-programme/