Over £200m to improve roads in Dumfries and Galloway

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-south-scotland-33541531

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The cost of bringing all council-maintained roads up to standard in Dumfries and Galloway has been estimated at £216m.

Four years ago councillors were told the figure stood at £116m.

The new estimate emerged in a meeting where local members also heard there was an increase in the rate of deterioration of local A roads last year.

The region's annual roads budget is just over £10m.

According to the latest condition survey of local roads, almost 36% of the routes are in need of attention.

Across Scotland, about 29% of A roads require work.

In 2013/14, 34.8% of carriageways in Dumfries and Galloway were considered for maintenance treatment.

Councillor Ian Carruthers said: "We have to get more money invested into the roads and bring them up to a high standard.

"It's staggering the state of the roads in this area."