A76 'temporary' lights come to an end after five years

Work has been completed on a stretch of south of Scotland road which had been operating under "temporary" traffic lights for five years.

The £2.8m project has realigned the A76 between Sanquhar and Thornhill, taking it away from an unstable embankment.

Traffic management was put in place following a landslip in the area in November 2014.

Scotland TranServ said the 30-week scheme had been completed on budget and three weeks ahead of schedule.

Principal Engineer Charles Macklin thanked the community, commuters and businesses for their patience during what had been a "complex project".

He said the new road would also smooth some sharp bends and introduce additional road safety benefits.

Final finishing, snagging and landscaping work will be delivered at a "more seasonal" time.

The completion brings to an end a lengthy wait to find a permanent solution to problems in the area.

There have been repeated calls from residents, businesses and politicians to have the traffic signals removed throughout their time in operation.