MOTORISTS fearing almost a year of disruption on one of Scotland's busiest roads were today told the traffic chaos will last for only two months.

The good news came from transport chiefs as they prepared a new phase of works on the A77 which links Ayrshire with Glasgow and the rest of the country.

Serious accidents and deaths over the years have prompted Transport Scotland to spend £10.6million on building two flyover bridges at Symington and Bogend Toll in South Ayrshire.

Ground work began weeks ago but now road signs are telling drivers that work on the A77 will begin on July 1 and last for 43 weeks, and warning: "Delays possible."

But transport chiefs say that disruption on the A77 will be kept to a minimum.

A spokeswoman for the agency said: "Work got under way on the A77 Symington and Bogend Toll project in April this year and will last for around 43 weeks.

"Traffic management is currently expected to be in place for less than nine weeks in part due to a solution provided by contractor RJ McLeod. The bridges being installed at Bogend and Symington will be built on supports at either end of the carriageway and will not require central supports.

"This significantly cuts back on the need for traffic management."

Traffic management can include lane closures, cones on the carriageway and speed restrictions.

Ruairidh Campbell, project manager at Transport Scotland, said: "We have planned these lane closures carefully to minimise the impact on the local community and travelling public."

gordon.thomson@eveningtimes.co.uk