Mr Swinney met with road campaigners and stakeholders, including Belfast Harbour, Stena Line and P&O Ferries and Galloway and West Dumfries MSP Finlay Carson, at Crocketford Village Hall on Monday afternoon.
And the head of the SNP explained what he intends to do about bypassing the two villages of Crocketford and nearby Springholm, but admitted he hasn’t got a “magic wand”.
The visit comes as a £5 million study to assess where the bypasses should be placed is announced.
During this week’s meeting, numerous concerns were raised about the road that was described as “not fit for purpose” by Stena Line representative Nicola Abernethy.
A potential solution discussed was the installation of average speed cameras along the A75.
After the meeting, Mr Swinney said: “This is a very significant route and it’s a route that’s an interaction between very high volumes of HGV traffic coming from the ferry ports which creates a congestion and intensity on the road but which also interacts with local communities and all the journeys associated with that. We’ve got to find a way through that addresses those concerns.
“I understand the local concerns and I’m keen to identify what improvements and steps we can take to address these local concerns.
The Strategic Transport Project review, did not conclude in favour of a dual carriageway, but it did identify improvements to be made, and I’m committed to trying to address those as quickly and as effectively as we can do.
The FM added: “Average speed cameras have been put to me and I’ll explore that. I’ve seen in my own constituency experience on the A9 that average speed cameras and an increase in the speed limit for HGVs has helped to improve the safety on the road.
“It’s not perfect, but it does help and I’m certainly happy to explore and take advice on the best approach.
“I’ve committed to respond to Finlay Carson so he can share with the group and for there to be regular dialogue with the government with what steps can be taken.
“It’s vital that people are able to live in safety and to access transport routes in the locality. I’ve heard that message loud and clear.”
Meanwhile, Mr Carson believes the meeting was a positive one moving forward.
He said: “It’s good the First Minister has given a commitment that on a six monthly basis he is going to update the stakeholders. It’s important for them to be aware of what progress is being made, or the lack of progress made, so we can apply pressure when needed.
“Encouragingly, we are moving in the right direction but I believe it will probably be a couple of years before the assessment is complete and some time after that before work would begin.
“But I remain optimistic progress will be made on the bypasses. It is a signal that it is going to happen and that is far more than we have had in the past.
“Average speed cameras are something I have been calling for over many years now and I take some heart that the First Minister has agreed to look at it as a matter of urgency towards improving the road’s poor safety record.
“Overall, I believe it was a productive and rewarding meeting.”
However, Colin Smyth MSP has urged the government to stop ducking its responsibility for upgrading the A75.
He said: “Local people want to see action, not just warm words from the First Minister.
“The simple fact is the only funding that has been committed to the A75 is the £5m from the UK Government, even though roads are an entirely devolved matter.
“Across Scotland, the SNP Government have committed billions to roads such as the A9. People in our region are simply asking for our fair share. They are sick and tired of being Scotland’s forgotten region when it comes to infrastructure investment.”
