WITH only a day to go before roadworks on a busy stretch of the A76 were due to finally be lifted, roads bosses have confirmed completion has been pushed back - AGAIN.

Work at the Howford Bridge, north of Mauchline, will now rumble on until the end of May.

Phase two of the work on the bridge was set to be completed on Friday, May 5.

Trunk road management firm Amey says "unforeseen operational challenges" are the reason for the latest delay.

A precise new date has not been identified for the completion of the work.

Drivers have been faced with on-and-off temporary lights on the bridge for this scheme of works since last year, when investigation work was carried out due to drainage issues being identified on the structure.

Many locals who use the road on a daily basis described the works as a "nightmare".

Work on the southbound carriageway of the trunk road at the Howford Bridge, south of Mauchline, was due to have been finished on Friday, April 14, according to road maintenance firm Amey.

The work was initially set to be finished by Friday, April 7, but it was then announced that the work was scheduled to be finished a week later, to accommodate for the Easter weekend

Amey said that "adverse weather" was to blame for the latest delay in completion of the work- pushing it back by another three weeks.

A spokesperson for Amey said: "Ongoing repairs on the A76 at Howford Bridge have been extended due to unforeseen operational challenges with completion scheduled for late May 2023.

"Favourable weather conditions are required to undertake the current programme of repairs.

"Adverse weather may impact the delivery of this scheme programme.

"We apologise for any inconvenience caused."