The new 4.5-mile road, resulting from a public private partnership, will service 3,400ha of commercial woodlands in Ae and Annandale.
Previously, according to the Forestry Commission, timber trucks used a "rat run" of small public roads from the Forest of Ae to the M74, including through the village of Johnstonebridge, coming out onto a main road at St Ann’s. This route will now be closed to heavy traffic.
The new road includes a purpose-built bridge over the Kinnel Water and comes out onto the A701. It also features a wheelwash facility so that lorries do not take mud onto the main road.
