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'Complex' gas leak repair to take at least 10 days

BBC A fenced off hole in the ground with cones around it and traffic passing by behind itBBC
Work started last month after a gas leak was reported by a member of the public

A "complex" gas leak repair on a key route in and out of Dumfries will take at least 10 more days to complete.

Distribution company SGN was called out last month after reports by a member of the public of a gas escape on the A701 at the Bloomfield Roundabout.

It has led to the closure of the road northbound as well as one lane southbound to stop people exiting the roundabout illegally.

The work has been further complicated as it is near a discarded asbestos pipe and SGN has estimated it will take until at least 18 July to complete the repairs.

A road closed sign at a roundabout with traffic queued to one side and another area fenced off for work
The A701 heading north out of Dumfries has been shut due to the work

The urgent gas repair closure started on 30 June and has caused lengthy tailbacks on both the A701 and nearby A75 Dumfries bypass.

SGN's Bradley Barlow said the work was in a "challenging location" and would "take some time" due to the size of the pipe, its depth and layout and the gas pressure.

In addition, a previously discarded asbestos pipe is being removed by a third party before engineers can access and repair the leaking main.

"We estimate it will be a minimum of two weeks from Friday 4 July before our work is complete," he said.

"This is pending further investigations to confirm no other sources of leakage."

A sign saying "warning deep excavation keep out" next to a fenced off area with a hole in the ground and lorries running down the A701
SGN said the work would take until at least 18 July to complete

Mr Barlow said diversions were in place for northbound traffic and the decision had been made to close one lane southbound after "multiple vehicles" had exited the roundabout into oncoming traffic.

"Local businesses remain open around our closure area," he added.

"Please follow the local signed diversion to access Dalscone Farm and Heathhall Garden Centre.

"We're sorry for any inconvenience caused by this urgent work, which we're working to complete as quickly as possible."

A queue of cars heading along the A701 outside Dumfries
The closure has caused disruption to traffic heading in and out of town

South of Scotland MSP Colin Smyth has criticised the length of time being taken and the level of disruption being caused.

He said he had written to transport bodies and SGN seeking an "urgent review" of how such incidents were handled.

He added that it appeared no lessons had been learned from previous work on the A701 which is a link route from Dumfries to the main A74(M) motorway.