A78 Shore Road, Skelmorlie | Emergency Repairs

Amey, on behalf of Transport Scotland, has confirmed that school buses between Skelmorlie and Largs are being escorted through the A78 closure from Friday 30th October 2026, removing the lengthy detour that pupils travelling to Largs Academy have faced since the road closed following Storm Boelo.

The buses are escorted through a restricted lane on the southbound carriageway in the morning and afternoon, at agreed times only, under strict safety controls. Each movement is managed by Amey teams at both ends of the closure, with the buses travelling under a vehicle escort at a reduced speed. The lane is narrow, with voids adjacent to it, and the arrangement will be monitored closely on every run. Amey reserves the right to suspend the service at short notice should conditions on site or the progress of the repairs give rise to any safety concern. Parents should look to the school for information on timings.

The A78 Shore Road between Largs and Skelmorlie remains closed to general traffic in both directions. High winds, heavy rain and large waves overtopped the sea defences south of Skelmorlie during Storm Boelo on Sunday 25th October, causing widespread cracking and displacement of the road surface along the seaward side of the carriageway and washing away a section of the sea wall. Investigations and emergency repairs are continuing at the worst affected locations, and the structural and geotechnical assessment of the carriageway is ongoing. Amey is not yet able to confirm when the road will fully reopen.

A restricted access lane has been operating on the southbound carriageway since Wednesday 28th October to help residents within the closure access their properties without travelling the full diversion. The lane is coned off, with designated passing places, and vehicles are taken through under escort at a maximum of 10 mph. Access is limited to residents and carers, and the lane remains closed to general traffic, including larger and heavier vehicles. The closure points are staffed at all times and access for emergency service vehicles is being maintained.

A signed diversion remains in place for through traffic. Southbound traffic should leave the A78 at Port Glasgow and follow the A761 through Kilmacolm to Johnstone, then the A737 to Kilbirnie, the B780 and B777, and the A760 to rejoin the A78 at Largs. Northbound traffic should follow the same route in reverse. Road users should allow extra time for their journeys.

Amey has also reiterated that Routenburn Road, Brisbane Glen Road and Meigle Road are not part of the diversion and are not suitable for through traffic. These are narrow rural roads with limited passing places, used by residents, agricultural vehicles, horse riders, walkers and cyclists, and there have been reports this week of vehicles becoming stuck and blocking the road. Larger vehicles should not use these roads under any circumstances. The roads are the responsibility of North Ayrshire Council, and Amey is working with the Council regarding the effect of the closure on the local road network.

A spokesperson for Amey said: "We know how disruptive this closure has been for the communities of Largs, Skelmorlie and Wemyss Bay, and for families in particular. Getting the school buses through safely has been a priority for the team this week, and we are pleased that the escorted arrangement is now running. The safety of the children is paramount, and we will monitor every run and will not hesitate to suspend the service if we have any concern.

"The road itself remains closed to general traffic because the damage affects the seaward side of the carriageway and the sea wall beneath it, and until our engineers have confirmed that the road and the ground supporting it are stable it is not safe to allow traffic onto the affected sections. Our teams are working to reopen the road as quickly as it is safe to do so, and we will confirm the position as soon as we can. In the meantime we would ask drivers to follow the signed diversion and to stay off the local back roads, which are not suitable for the traffic now using them."