Major roadworks near New Cumnock leaving motorists facing a diversion of more than 70 miles have been delayed.

Work was due to take place on the A76 at Blackwood farm, to the east of New Cumnock, from Sunday, June 23 until Saturday, June 29. 

Amey is now undertaking the essential overnight resurfacing starting from Monday, June 24, due to "operational issues".

The works are still scheduled to be completed by Saturday, June 29, dependant on weather.

The work will be carried out using overnight road closures between 7pm and 6am each night, and signed diversions will be in operation.

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In addition, temporary traffic lights will be in place at the work site during the day.

Traffic heading northbound towards New Cumnock from Kirkconnel will be diverted southbound on the A76 to Holestane Road near Drumlanrig Castle, then to the A702 north of Carronbridge, and then to Abington to join the B7078.

From there, traffic will be directed to the A70 Ayr Road towards Cumnock, rejoining the A76 at the Dettingen roundabout.

Southbound traffic heading from the Cumnock and New Cumnock area towards Dumfriesshire will be diverted on to the A70 at the Dettingen roundabout and then the B7078 to Abington and the A702 to Carronbridge, with vehicles heading for Sanquhar or Kirkconnel directed back on to the A76 at the Thornhill roundabout.

Amey, which is carrying out the work on behalf of Transport Scotland, says the diversion will add an additional 30 minutes to motorists' journeys during the hours of the closure, from where the diversions begin.

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However, the distance from one end of the work to the other is almost 76 miles.

The trunk road maintenance company says that temporary lights are needed during the day to allow sections of the road where deeper resurfacing has been carried out time to cool.

The firm also says that the width of the road means it's not safe to resurface the road without a full night-time closure.

More information can be found on the SW Trunk Road website.