B714 Upgrade

The upgrading of the B714 has been approved as part of a successful North Ayrshire Council joint funding bid to the UK Government's Levelling Up Fund.

The B714 links the Trunk Road network from the A78 Sharphill Roundabout (Three Towns Bypass) to the A737, south of Dalry. It is a vital link for:

road users travelling to the West Coast
ferry links to Arran and Cumbrae

The upgrade of the B714 will:

improve connectivity between North Ayrshire and Glasgow, the Central Belt and wider motorway network
increase the potential for tourism and economic development
provide enhanced links to ferry services
contribute to the repopulation of our islands and rural areas
ensure that those living in our rural, remote and island communities are well connected and have equitable access to services
divert a significant volume of traffic away from Kilwinning

Phase 1

B714 Phase 1, map highlighting new sections of alignment for Dalry to Girthill Farm.

Phase 1 will include:

re-alignment of a 3.5km section of B714 between Girthill Farm and a proposed roundabout on Kilwinning Road, adjacent to the recently constructed Hillend Roundabout (A737/Kilwinning Road)
re-aligned junctions improving visibility for both vehicles on the B714 and those waiting to join the B714
a 9.3m wide single carriageway cross section, comprising two 3.65m lanes with a 1.0m hard-strip at each side between Girthill Farm and Craighead Farm

an additional 3.0m wide overtaking lane on the uphill gradient, between the proposed roundabout at Kilwinning Road and Craighead Farm

mock up image of B714 with overtaking lane

Phase 2

Girthill Farm to the A78(T) Sharphill Roundabout. The western end of Phase 1 can be seen at the right-hand side of the image with two new sections proposed in Phase 2.

A path for cyclists and pedestrians will be delivered in Phase 2, providing an active travel route between Saltcoats and Dalry.

B714 Phase 2 - map showing Girthill Farm to the A78 (T) Sharphill Roundabout

Pre-construction planning

2024

planning application
services and public utility relocation
biosecurity management plan
road safety audit
preparation of contract
construction tender period

2025

construction - Spring 2025 to 2026

Community Wealth Building

The project will contribute to Community Wealth Building and will have a positive impact on council ambitions under the following pillars:

Procurement - opportunity for a local supply chain
Fair employment - opportunities for local training, work experience and employment, particularly within the construction sector
Financial power - investment in the B714 corridor and attracting external national investment

Consultation

There will be consultation and negotiation with landowners around the acquisition of land.

In order to meet that timetable imposed by the Scottish Government, the Compulsory Purchase Order (CPO) process will be run in parallel with negotiations. Please see documentation: