Balfour Beatty has been awarded the contract to upgrade the Garroch roundabout on the A75 in Dumfries.

The works are essential for the £200 million reprovision of the Dumfries and Galloway district general hospital at the Garroch site.

The £1.2 million project to reconfigure the roundabout is required to ensure traffic in and out of the new 350-bed hospital complex will be effectively managed, while keeping traffic moving along this key route. Balfour Beatty's works will include increasing the size of the four-leg roundabout, relocating one leg of the roundabout to accommodate access to the new hospital and the existing side road, and realigning the remaining approach roads. The works will involve service diversions and protection, as well as the installation of drainage, cable ducts, road lighting, footways, cycleways, signage and other works associated with a trunk road scheme.

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Dennis O'Keeffe, Project Director for the new hospital in NHS Dumfries and Galloway said: "The award of this contract represents another significant milestone and a key element in the delivery of the enabling works, in advance of the start of construction of the new hospital in early 2015."

Transport Minister Keith Brown said: "I am delighted to see the contract for the upgrade to Garroch roundabout awarded. These works, which are expected to be completed by the end of the year and allow the construction of the new hospital to get underway early next year, will ensure vital traffic to and from the new complex can access the trunk road safely while avoiding disruption to through traffic on the A75."

(CD/MH)