Dumfriesshire MP David Mundell is set to meet representatives of the Highways Agency, Transport Scotland and representatives from Gretna and Springfield community councils and Kirkandrew-on-Esk parish council on Wednesday to discuss possible changes to the Guards Mill Interchange on the M74/M6. Local communities believe the current arrangements do not provide the best access on to the M6/M74, particularly for heavy good vehicles, meaning they have to travel through local communities to get onto the motorway. They also feel that new housing developments in the area will mean an increase in traffic which will put extra pressure on the existing junction.
Speaking ahead of the meeting Mr Mundell said: “This is an important meeting to look at the options for improvements. This is the major cross-border route and of vital strategic importance to the area. But local people have to live with the consequences of the current layout of the junction every day and they have real concerns about how it is operating now. They believe increased traffic flows from the new housing developments will make the situation worse.
“At the moment lorries travelling from the Longtown area or the north of Carlisle, and who want to go North have to travel through Gretna or Springfield. This could be changed if there were northbound access from the south junction. This is what we want to discuss with Transport Scotland and the Highways Agency.”