Delay to A9 Raigmore Interchange pedestrian crossing in Inverness is ‘dangerous’, says MSP
Ongoing delays in installing a pedestrian crossing at the A9 Raigmore Interchange in Inverness have been described as dangerous and unreasonable.
Highlands and Islands Labour MSP Rhoda Grant said there have been calls for a controlled pedestrian crossing to be put in to improve safety for pedestrians and motorists since 2019.
Despite assurances that this would happen and repeated requests for progress, she said the Scottish Government, through its national agency Transport Scotland, had failed to give confirmation when work will start.
• A9 Raigmore Interchange pedestrian safety improvements to be introduced in wake of fatal collision
• Campaigners call for safety improvements on A9 Raigmore Interchange in Inverness
Ms Grant has been informed by Transport Scotland that it is unlikely the project will start in the autumn as previously hoped and a decision to start work could not be given due to ongoing funding reviews.
“This is a dangerous stretch of road,” Ms Grant said.
“The longer we wait for a controlled pedestrian crossing here, the longer it poses a real danger.
“This has been a clear need and well established for years, yet there has been an unreasonable delay to work commencing.”
She said since 2019, she and her former colleague David Stewart had pushed Transport Scotland and Highland Council to quickly progress construction yet there had been a series of inadequate responses with promises to start work but nothing concrete forthcoming.
“I have again contacted Transport Scotland to get confirmation of when they will actually get spades in the ground here to ensure that safety is paramount for road users and pedestrians,” she said.
“All efforts should be made to reduce any further delays.”
In a letter to Ms Grant, Hugh Gillies, director of roads for Transport Scotland, said its operating company, BEAR Scotland, had reviewed the design package supplied by the project designers, Jacobs.
An updated design package is due for completion by the end of September 2024.
He wrote: “In the meantime, BEAR Scotland has engaged with their specialist sub-contractor to carry out a review of the traffic signal design at the site, which will include updated traffic counts to inform traffic modelling.
“They have also engaged with environmental colleagues to determine any required updates to the environmental submission for the works to proceed.
“Once the design and modelling works have been completed, an updated cost estimate shall be provided to Transport Scotland to review available funding streams.”
Once funding had been confirmed, a delivery programme could be developed but unfortunately it was unlikely that the project would start in the autumn as previously hoped.
