Merryvale Roundabout

Merryvale Roundabout on the A737 lies to the south of Irvine town centre and marks the western end of the A71, which approaches along the Irvine Southern Approach Road. It was opened in 1971 (The Irvine Southern Approach Road was reported as due to open next week by the Irvine Herald of 4 June 1971. It had been opened by 23 June 1971), with the new Southern Approach Road, which was built on a former railway line, which had only closed a few years beforehand. Initially unclassified, the new road became part of the A71 around the time that the Dreghorn bypass and connecting link opened in 1981. It was designed to reduce congestion at The Cross in the town centre.

The roundabout is a 4-arm junction, with each arm having two approach and one departure lane apart from the northern A737 which only has room for a single approach lane. There are two spiralled circulatory lanes. The fourth arm, River Way, heads west to the retail park and on to the car parks for the town's shopping centre, as well as serving the old harbour area and a large industrial estate spanning the railway. The southern arm still (2022) has a sign for the A77(M), although this has always been numbered as the M77!

Maps

The road prior to the Southern Approach Road

The roundabout in 1973 after opening of the Southern Approach Road

Routes

Route	To	Notes
A71	Newmoor Roundabout, Kilmarnock, Glasgow (A77(M))
A737	Harbourside, Ayr (A78)
A737	Kilwinning, Hospital (A&E)
	Heatherhouse Ind Est