WORK on the upgrade to the B714 between Saltcoats and Dalry is now set to be completed by the end of March 2026.
An update on the £23.7 million plan - supported by UK Government Levelling Up cash - was revealed by Kilwinning councillor Donald Reid this week.
Cllr Reid said the upgrade would mean major traffic improvements to Kilwinning, removing traffic from the Dalry Road area of the town.
The project was initially due to be completed last year, but there has been a delay due to objections to a Compulsory Purchase Order (CPO) for some of the land required.
The planning application for the scheme has been approved but 11 objections to the CPO were received.
Ten of the objections were resolved and subsequently withdrawn, leaving one outstanding objection.
That is now being considered by the Scottish Government's Planning and Environmental Appeals Division (DPEA).
Phase two of the upgrade (Image: NAC) The Reporter ordered a public inquiry which commenced on November 18. The programme suggests that the CPO process will be completed, and, subject to the outcome of the public inquiry, the land could be within North Ayrshire Council ownership by July/August 2025.
The B714 upgrade will be delivered in two stages, with the initial focus on approximately four kilometres of new road at the north end, tying into the Hillend Roundabout at the foot of the A737 Dalry Bypass.
The remaining 2.5 kilometres at the south end of the B714 will benefit from localised safety upgrades, but the full upgrade will be carried out if additional funding becomes available in the future.
The new alignment includes a new roundabout close to the Caff Bridge and the existing Hillend Roundabout at the north end.
This aims to provide the most cost-effective solution to tie into the A737 Dalry Bypass due to the high volume of excavation required to link directly into the Hillend Roundabout.
All major transport projects under the Levelling Up Fund (LUF) are subject to the approval of a Full Business Case.
The Outline Business Case for the project was approved by the Department for Transport in May 2024. Work is ongoing to develop the Full Business Case for approval by the Department of Transport.
Cllr Reid said a tender process for the project will be run in parallel with the CPO process and a construction contract will be awarded, if and when, legal access to the land is secured.
The deadline for the project completion, stipulated by the LUF, was originally March 31, 2025 but has now been extended to March 31, 2026, with works to be substantially committed or completed by that date.