Traffic chaos hit drivers in Dreghorn last week with diversion routes later needing altered after the ‘shambles’.

Roads were gridlocked as A71 resurfacing work kicked off on June 2 – with council bosses offering their apologies after drivers were queued from Greenwood roundabout to Dreghorn Cross including up to 40+ tonne LGV.

Further queues were also reported the next day – with NHS bosses warning of lengthy waits at the drop-in vaccine clinic at Greenwood.

Dreghorn resident Gavin Cousar said: “This is a complete and utter shambles. Every morning in Dreghorn Monday to Friday for the next fortnight and beyond is going to be like this – I for one struggle to get out of my driveway every morning.

“If anybody had half a brain organising the diversion of traffic, common sense would direct it towards Shewalton past GSK but no, let’s send it through the village of Dreghorn where we can put pupils in needless danger while adding to the congestion traffic dropping pupils at the academy and people going to the conference centre for COVID jabs.

“The utter lunacy of it really does beggar belief. As a concerned citizen, parent of children walking to both schools and a resident of Dreghorn, I would like a reason for this shambles.”

An NAC spokesperson said: “Due to essential carriageway resurfacing the west bound carriageway of the A71 was closed for resurfacing works on Tuesday 1 June from the Muirfield Roundabout in East Ayrshire to the Warrix Interchange, with the diversion taking traffic through Crosshouse, Springside and Dreghorn.

“We have now altered the diversion route to reduce the volume of vehicles travelling through Dreghorn.

“We apologise for any inconvenience caused by these essential works.”