Killer A9 Highland junction revamp work won't be forgotten, MSP Kate Forbes pledges
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WORK to improve a Highland accident blackspot where a teenager died isn't being forgotten because of the ongoing coronavirus crisis.
That's the promise from MSP Kate Forbes over a busy Black Isle stretch of the A9 where Gregor McIntosh (16), from Inverness, was killed in a three-car collision at the junction with the B9161 to Munlochy last December.
While a community summit with road agencies and police she organised last month was cancelled because of the pandemic, Ms Forbes said this week she has received assurances from Transport Scotland work will continue once it is safe to do so.
Roads agency BEAR have also started to put new equipment in place to improve the reliability of the queue warning signs – which had developed a fault for northbound A9 traffic. These works will be completed as soon as it is safe to do so.
After speaking with senior officials Transport Scotland to ensure there is still a commitment to work on the junction, she said the transport agency is appointing an engineering consultant to assess long-term options for the A9 between North Kessock and Tore.
Transport Scotland has told Ms Forbes that potential options range from low-cost, readily-implementable measures upwards. However most options require statutory public consultation, which may result in legal objections and delays.
The Black Isle MSP said: “Whilst the current lockdown means that construction work can’t go ahead, that doesn’t mean that all work has stopped.
“The Munlochy Junction is a priority and so I had a telephone meeting with Transport Scotland about progressing as much work as possible in the interim period.
“I am pleased to see the extent of work that Transport Scotland is considering at the junction, and hope that once the lockdown is over and the pandemic has passed work can resume.”
New equipment is meantime being put in place to improve the reliability of queue warning signs which had developed a fault for northbound A9 traffic.
