PART of one of Ayrshire's busiest roads is to close on two occasions this month.

The work will take place on the A78 southbound carriageway - from the Three Towns to Irvine - between the Pennyburn Roundabout and the Garnock Rail Overbridge.

This section of the road will be closed off by Amey, which is carrying out carriageway patching on behalf of Transport Scotland, to allow the work to take place.

This part of the carriageway will be completely closed on two ocassions.

The first of these closures will be on Tuesday, August 15, when the road will close from 8pm.

It will then re-open at 6am on Wednesday, August 16.

The section of the carriageway will then close again on Tuesday, August 22, from 8pm and re-open as normal again at 6am the following day.

The northbound section of the road, coming from Irvine to the Three Towns, will not be affected by the closure.

A signed diversion route will be in operation throughout the duration of the work, taking road users around the closed section of the carriageway.

Traffic on the A78 southbound traffic, towards Pennyburn Roundabout, should take the first exit onto the A738, Stevenson Road instead of the second exit to continue on the A78.

At the following roundabout, they should take the first exit to continue on the A738.

From here, traffic will travel through Howgate and will then turn left onto the A737, Lauchlan Way.

Traffic will continue in a south-easterly direction to travel on Irvine Road and at the traffic signals will turn left.

At the roundabout, traffic will take the first exit onto the A78 slip road towards Ayr/Prestwick Airport.

Amey say that the work will benefit around 32,727 vehicles using this route each day, by improving the condition of the carriageway and reducing the need for more extensive maintenance in the future.

Access for emergency service vehicles will be maintained throughout these works. 

As with all schemes, these works are weather dependent and may be cancelled or rescheduled if weather conditions are not favourable.