Call for Toll of Birness junction to be replaced with roundabout
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MP David Duguid has written to Scotland’s transport minister urging the Scottish Government to replace the A90’s Toll of Birness junction with a roundabout.
It comes after a man was injured and the road was closed for more than eight hours following a collision involving two lorries and a car.
The Banff and Buchan MP attended a meeting with Nestrans to discuss the transport’s body’s new A90(N)/A952 Ellon to Peterhead and Fraserburgh Appraisal.
Consultants Stantec have been appointed to update the previous studies which examined the case for making improvements to the A90(N) and A952 corridors from Ellon to Peterhead and Fraserburgh.
A “story map” website is now being developed along with an online survey for businesses and a separate survey for residents.
Potential options for improving the road corridors will be brought forward and a case will be presented to the Scottish Government pushing for change.
At the meeting on Monday, Mr Duguid welcomed the progress from Nestrans and has now written to transport minister Fiona Hyslop urging her to invest in upgrading the Toll of Birness junction to a roundabout as part of wider calls to dual the road between Ellon and Peterhead.
It comes after a 64-year-old man was taken to hospital following a crash between two lorries and a car last Thursday, resulting in the road being closed between the Toll of Birness and Hatton for more than eight hours.
Last December, Ms Hyslop’s predecessor, Jenny Gilruth, said the plan to dual the road was considered but thrown out in favour of measures “to deal with the challenge of climate change” on the road.
It was also absent from the SNP conference in October, marking 16 years since the then First Minister Alex Salmond pledged to dual the A90 in his first 100 days in office.
Mr Duguid said electronic warning signs on the road were not sufficient to address the “trauma” which was being caused to families by regular crashes occurring on the A90.
In his letter, he said: “I write concerning ongoing safety issues regarding the Toll of Birness junction on the A90 in Aberdeenshire and the wider need for the road to be dualled between Ellon and Peterhead which is of paramount concern to both my constituents and I.
“We continue to have a terrifying number of collisions at the junction, most recently on Thursday, December 7, when a man was taken to hospital following a crash between two lorries and a car.
"The road was closed for more than eight hours and resulted in paramedics and police being called to the scene.
“Sadly, as I would hope you are aware, this is only the latest in a long series of accidents on this road and this junction in particular.
“Regional transport body Nestrans support the need for the A90 to be dualled and want a roundabout to be installed at the Toll of Birness which I am in full support of.
"They have launched the A90(N)/A952 Ellon to Peterhead and Fraserburgh Appraisal which is now inviting feedback from local communities and businesses, as well as those who travel in the area.
“The current work focuses on transport problems and opportunities between Ellon, Peterhead and Fraserburgh and the impact of these problems on residents and businesses before developing potential options for improvement.”
Mr Duguid’s letter continued: “On Monday, December 11, I joined a meeting with Nestrans to discuss their latest study.
"We heard about the long-standing and continued need to dual the A90 and improve the Toll of Birness junction as well as the one at Cortes and how a project website has also been developed with online surveys for residents and businesses.
"I’m pleased this data will then be used to make a case to the Scottish Government for the road to finally be upgraded.
“What is particularly frustrating however is that the same issues remain which were present in the previous review back in 2016, with very little in the way of actual improvements to show for it.
“I note the SNP didn’t include the dualling of the A90 between Ellon and Peterhead at its party conference – 16 years since Alex Salmond pledged to dual the road in his first 100 days in office.
"It’s simply not good enough to throw this promise into the long grass now that Mr Salmond is no longer First Minister.
"It’s also a betrayal to the people of the north-east to think that installing electronic signs at the Toll of Birness junction is a sufficient solution to solving major safety issues.
“I urge you to give some clarity on if you will back these dualling and roundabout plans from Nestrans, how much you will invest and when we can expect work on upgrading the Toll of Birness.
"This junction, in its current condition, is not fit for purpose and is causing trauma to local families on a regular basis.
"I urge you to take action for the sake of these families whose loved ones have been tragically killed or injured between Ellon, Peterhead and Fraserburgh in recent years.
“This latest review, and its outcomes, must not be left to languish for another seven years with no significant action.”
