Review into A90 accident blackspot yet to commence
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The Scottish Government probe into a north-east accident blackspot is taking “longer than first anticipated” according to transport chiefs.
In February 2022, MSP Liam Kerr and Councillor Gillian Owen urged a Transport Scotland review of the A90 Tipperty crossroads layout near Ellon.
This followed a fatal accident involving a 74-year-old man at the nearby Logie Road junction.
An early response outlined an investigation of the central reservations at Tipperty, Logie Road and Logie Farm was “a matter of urgency”.
And later correspondence with North East MSP Mr Kerr said the review would be complete by last September.
Now, Transport Scotland’s roads director Hugh Gillies has admitted the review has not yet taken place, and “consultants have indicated that the report is expected to be submitted to Transport Scotland in mid-March.”
Included in the review will be a 20-year accident data assessment, a cost-benefit analysis for potential safety measures, and “key stakeholder consultations” which have yet to take place.
Mr Kerr said: “It is hugely disappointing that there has been yet another delay to this important piece of work.
“We know there have been more accidents and daily near misses in this area since February 2022, but that’s likely to be the tip of the iceberg.
“At least Mr Gillies has promised that the consultants are going to go through 20 years of accident data, which should allow a gold standard baseline for investigation.
“However, it is my fear that there will be a political dimension to what happens once the review is published – whether the SNP-Green government give it the green light.
“Hopefully they will take a lesson from the mishandling of the A9, A96 and A90 Toll of Birness.
“Constituents won’t like any indication that the dread hand of Bute House is anywhere near this.”
