This item was published during the term of a previous administration that ended in April 2007
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Ten new road improvement schemes
20/03/2003
Ten new road construction projects are to be developed across Scotland, it was announced today, at the same time as the results of the Executive's review of Toute Action Plans for the trunk road network were published.
Deputy Transport Minister said road safety and journey times would be be improved as a result of the schemes on long-distance trunk roads where construction is expected to start in 2005-2006.
Funding of £20 million will be committed to the development of the 10 schemes over the next three years from provisions made in last year's Scottish budget.
Mr Macdonald said:
"The investment I am announcing today for trunk roads across Scotland will tackle a number of safety issues and ensure that our trunk road network is efficient and supports our local communities as well as business and tourism.
"The various construction schemes will have substantial road safety and economic benefits and will contribute to reducing driver frustration and improving driver behaviour.
"Improving key transport links throughout Scotland is one of our key priorities to encourage and sustain economic growth. That is why in our Scottish budget last year we committed record levels of investment for transport, and why this is being used to make smart, targeted improvements to our long distance trunk roads."
The 10 new construction schemes are:
- A9 Perth-Inverness: new climbing lane at Bankfoot between Perth and Dunkeld to bring road safety and congestion benefits.
- A9 Perth-Inverness: extension of present short length of dual carriageway at Crubenmore to provide safe overtaking south of Newtonmore.
- A9 Perth-Inverness: carriageway widening between Kincraig and Dalraddy to provide guaranteed safe overtaking between Kingussie and Aviemore.
- A96 Inverness-Aberdeen: carriageway widening at Delnies to provide guaranteed safe overtaking between Nairn and Inverness.
- A96 Inverness-Aberdeen: new junction and approaches east of Lhanbryde at Threapland to improve road safety and capacity.
- A68 Dalkeith-Melrose: carriageway widening and improved alignment at Pathhead to Tynehead Junction to provide guaranteed overtaking.
- A68 Dalkeith-Melrose, Soutra to Oxton: carriageway widening and creation of a new junction with a right turn facility at Oxton road end together with guaranteed overtaking for southbound traffic.
- A7 south of Hawick: widening of route at Auchenrivock between Langholm and Canonbie Bypass, including removal of winding bends. Also consideration of possible improvements at the narrow Skipper's Bridge where traffic signals control one-way working.
- A7 Galashiels-Hawick, Glenmayne to Yair: road widening and realignment at Boleside above the River Tweed immediately south of Galashiels.
- A76 Dumfries-Kilmarnock: creation of climbing lane and improved carriageway at Glenairlie, south of Sanquahar, to provide guaranteed overtaking and improve journey times between Dumfries and Kilmarnock.
Mr Macdonald also announced a Route Improvement Strategy study for the southern sections of the A9 to consider longer term options for further improvements on the heavily trafficked section between Perth and Dunkeld, and between Dunkeld and Blair Atholl.
The success of the Route Action Plan approach has been extended with two new Route Action Plans commissioned to identify measures to improve safety and speed up journey times on the A82 and the A985.
The A82 study will be welcomed by west coast drivers between Glasgow and Fort William. It will concentrate particularly on possible improvements between Tarbet and Crianlarich and between North Ballachullish and Fort William where summer time delays can be significant.
The A985 study will examine the stretch from Rosyth to Kincardine Bridgehead, looking at the needs of traffic to and from Rosyth and the new link road currently being developed at Kincardine.
These new Route Action Plans will build on the success of the earlier Plans that have led to the specific improvement schemes announced today.
Mr Macdonald added:
"Road safety is paramount throughout the trunk road network in Scotland and we are committed to achieving a 40 per cent reduction in the number of deaths and serious injuries on our roads by 2010."
A Route Action Plan follows from an intensive study of a route, taking into account accident investigation and prevention schemes, junction upgrades, measures to reduce traffic delays and targeted improvements.