Calls to fast track plans to replace dangerous Fraserburgh junction with roundabout following spate of recent crashes
Register for free to read more of the latest local news. It's easy and will only take a moment.
Calls have been made to fast track plans to replace a dangerous north-east junction with a roundabout following a spate of recent crashes.
Council election candidate for Fraserburgh, James Adams, and Central Buchan candidates Hannah Powell and Steve Owen met with Scottish Conservative north-east MSP Liam Kerr to discuss safety concerns at the A90/A952 Cortes junction.
It comes after a two-car crash occurred at the junction near Lonmay last week leaving debris strewn across the road.
The Scottish Conservatives have backed proposals to install a roundabout at Cortes as well as introducing “2+1 lanes” further north, to Peterhead and Fraserburgh, to enable safer overtaking.
The plans are included in the Nestrans regional transport strategy and are currently being considered as part of Transport Scotland’s Strategy Transport Projects Review 2 process.
Mr Kerr said: “It’s absolutely horrifying to see the number of crashes which occur at the Cortes junction on a regular basis.
“On our visit, it was concerning to see the debris of yet another collision on the road.
“These spates of accidents highlight how vital it is to get spades into the ground and work started because lives are being put at risk with the junction in its current state.
“For too long our trunk network has been abandoned by the SNP Government who would rather upgrade the M8 or M9 in the Central Belt than care about the north-east.
“This is exactly why we are calling on Transport Scotland to fast track plans to replace the junction with a roundabout to alleviate the devastation that we are constantly seeing at Cortes.”
Fraserburgh candidate James Adams added: “The junction has been newly tarred which will be of benefit at night, however, the speed of traffic exiting onto the A90 is alarming and illustrates how vital it is to have a roundabout created in place of the junction.”
Central Buchan candidate Hannah Powell continued: “I am alarmed at the speed of traffic and know personally what a dangerous junction this is as we could see debris from a recent crash where a Strichen resident was involved.
“Thankfully no one was seriously hurt but it’s clear upgrades like a roundabout are urgently needed.”
Fellow Central Buchan candidate Steve Owen said: “The road has multiple sections of poor white lines and ineffective cats’ eyes which adds to the danger of this horrendous junction.
“I have asked Aberdeenshire Council what discussions it has had about the long-term plans for the road which also falls into the Scottish Government’s remit.”
