ROADS in North Ayrshire could be improved to pave the way for the Ayrshire Growth Deal.

Transport Scotland is carrying out an appraisal of road, rail and port links in areas affected by the £250million funding boost.

The A737, which runs from Irvine through Kilwinning, will be assessed to see if it could handle the Ayrshire Growth Deal developments.

Other routes in North Ayrshire have been flagged up for possible improvement including the A760 and B741 Dalry to Saltcoats road. The Ayrshire Growth Deal will see £14 million pouring in for the regeneration of the Irvine harbourside and Ardeer.

An £11 million subsea fibre optic cable will also have a landing point in the town Elsewhere in Irvine, business park i3 will get a £21million investment.

Hunterston is also set to become home to an £18million Centre for Research into Low Carbon Energy and Circular Economy. All the ambitious plans will rely on a strong transport infrastructure.

A report presented at East Ayrshire Council on March 28outlined possible transport projects for the whole of the county. Ayrshire Roads Alliance head Stewart Turner told councillors: “We will be heavily involved in the Ayrshire Growth Deal as the Ayrshire Roads Alliance.”

The Ayrshire Roads Alliance (ARA) report said: “Transport infrastructure will be essential to securing Ayrshire’s economic growth.”

But it pointed out “no transport projects” have been included “within the current Ay rshir e Gr owth D eal proposals.”

The ARA service plan said: “Transport infrastructure will underpin the Growth Deal proposals and this has been developed to support the proposals as specified in the project business cases.

“Ayrshire’s key transport routes (road, rail, sea and air) are critical for businesses to enable goods to get to market, our communities to employment and for training opportunities.

“A number of key route improvements have been identified to support the Ayrshire Growth Deal."