Communities are being placed right at the heart of consultation on the multi-million pound B714 upgrade project.
Three public meetings have been arranged for next week, an online session will take place and consultation information will also be available in seven libraries and on request.
The upgrade was approved as part of a successful North Ayrshire Council funding bid to the Levelling Up Fund.
The B714 links the trunk road network from the A78 Sharphill Roundabout – Three Towns Bypass – to the A737 at the south end of Dalry.
It is a vital link for road users travelling between the Three Towns and the Garnock Valley and to the West Coast and ferry links to Arran and Cumbrae.
The upgrade of the B714 will:
- Improve connectivity between North Ayrshire and Glasgow, the Central Belt and wider motorway network
- Enhance connectivity and road safety between the Garnock Valley and the Three Towns.
- Boost potential for tourism and economic development and provide enhanced links to the Arran and Cumbrae Ferry services.
- Help repopulate the islands and rural areas by providing improved access between the ferry terminals, mainland settlements, Glasgow, the central belt and wider motorway network and
- Divert a significant volume of traffic accessing the A78 away from Kilwinning as traffic will connect directly to the A78 via the new upgraded B714.
Once completed, the B714 Upgrade scheme will comprise over 6.5km of new single carriageway and adjacent segregated 3m wide active travel provision. This will allow cyclists and pedestrians to travel actively between Dalry and Saltcoats and enjoy a route that would not previously have been attractive to users. There may also be the opportunity to improve facilities for horse riders around the route.
The Council will receive £23.7m from the Levelling Up Fund and contribute a further 10 percent match funding to the project. The delivery of the scheme, subject to securing the necessary consents and permissions, was agreed by the Council’s Cabinet on 25 January 2022.
The three public exhibitions have been arranged so people in the communities can inform the development of the proposals.
These will take place at:
Kilwinning Academy on Tuesday, November 15th;
Saltcoats Town Hall on Wednesday, November 16th and
Dalry Primary on Thursday, November 17th.
Each drop-in session will run from 4.30pm to 8.30pm.
An online session will also take place from 4pm to 7pm on Monday, November 21st. To register your interest for the virtual meeting and to book a slot, please email your details to b714upgrade@north-ayrshire.gov.uk before Thursday 17th.
The consultation information will also be available in seven libraries from the start of the consultation period to allow as many people as possible to get involved.
The libraries involved are: Kilwinning, Dalry and the Three Towns of Saltcoats, Stevenston and Ardrossan as well as Beith and Kilbirnie in the Garnock Valley.
Hard copies are also available on request by e-mail from transportation@north-ayrshire.gov.uk or by telephone via 01294 310000.
An online survey will also be available.
Councillor Tony Gurney, Cabinet Member for Economy and Climate Change, said: “The B714 upgrade will bring many benefits to the Garnock Valley, Kilwinning and the Three Towns.
“It is important that as many people as possible go along to the public meetings, fill in the online survey and read the information that will be available online, in the libraries or on request. We want communities to get involved.
“This project will significantly improve connectivity, contribute to the repopulation of our islands and rural areas, improve road safety and ease traffic congestion.
“It is vitally important that we get public feedback.”
You can find out more about the project on the Council’s dedicated B714 Upgrade page at https://bit.ly/3Fdy7zG