Transport Scotland published an OJEU notice inviting tenders for the main ground investigation works at Maybole, where a bypass is planned on the A77.
Residents have been campaigning for years under the slogan "NO to congestion, YES to by-pass".
And transport minister Keith Brown said the by-pass would allow traffic travelling through the town to take a different route from that going further afield.
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He said: "The A77 is one of the key routes to the newly opened Loch Ryan ports and as a Government we are determined to enhance connections to and from this major transport hub.
"The bypass at Maybole will help separate local traffic from traffic travelling further afield including the Loch Ryan ports and lead to improved safety both for road users and the local communities and better journey time reliability for motorists and businesses along the full length of the A77.
"This latest milestone to allow ground investigations works to commence and gather valuable information to inform further detailed design and assessment and confirm the preferred route for the bypass, will I am sure be welcome news for local communities and road users alike who want to see continued progress on this essential scheme."
Draft road orders outlining the scheme design proposals are expected to be published in Autumn 2013.
(NE/GK)
