Fresh call over A9 junction with B9161 Munlochy road on Black Isle in bid to see turning across four lanes of dual carriageway closed as MSP Kate Forbes and local councillor Gordon Adam flag concerns with Transport Scotland
Register for free to read more of the latest local news. It's easy and will only take a moment.
The right turn onto the A9 heading north from Munlochy should be closed to try to prevent any more deaths at the accident black spot after a woman in her 80s lost her life there two weeks ago, an MSP has argued.
The crash was the latest in a series of incidents that prompted local MSP Kate Forbes, among others, to call on Transport Scotland to make urgent improvements having met Police Scotland’s lead officer for the Highlands and Islands.
Ms Forbes wants to see the exit from the B9161 junction – which crosses four lanes of dual carriageway onto the northbound carriageway of the A9 at the Munlochy Junction – closed for such manoeuvres.
Exiting from the B9161 means negotiating two lanes of traffic from the north, two lanes from the south as well as a further slipway of traffic attempting to turn right in the direction of Munlochy.
Motorists would instead have to make their way either directly to the Tore Roundabout or even onto the A9 south to change direction north at the Longman.
The MSP is still awaiting a response to her letter calling for longer-term plans to be fast-tracked from Transport Scotland, which has pledged to make interim improvements including installing lighting at the junction.
The Skye, Lochaber and Badenoch MSP said: “As someone who uses the junction on a regular basis, I would never choose to take that right turn from the B9161 onto the northbound A9 for safety reasons, and instead would use local roads to work my way back to Tore roundabout.
“Most people who know the junction and the area would rather not attempt to across four lanes of 70mph dual carriageway, particularly during peak times with steady traffic on both sides.
“Traffic volumes continue to increase at this junction, and stopping the right turn from the local road onto the northbound carriageway of the A9 could reduce the risk of accidents and near misses.
“I would also like to see the southbound slipway from the Munlochy Junction, which joins the southbound carriageway of the A9, extended – to give adjoining vehicles longer to get up to speed here.
“These are of course only short-term solutions, and my aim remains for the longer-term improvements to be implemented as quickly as possible.”
Local Councillor Gordon Adam has written to head of safety at Transport Scotland Richard Perry.
He flags “yet another tragic fatality at the Munlochy junction” which “highlights the urgency of undertaking improvement work quickly”.
He reinforces “the considerable local concern” over the junction.
He wrote: “There are three steps which Transport Scotland can take to improve the situation, all of which attract strong public support according to your survey: Install street lighting at the Munlochy Junction; Ban a right hand turn from the B9161 onto the northbound A9 carriageway; Increase the length of the south-bound slip road from the B9161 onto the A9.
“All are in your proposed programme of works, but the timing for the street lighting and the right turn ban is estimated to be between six months and four years. For the improvement to the slip road it is between three and seven years.
“The communities on the Black Isle would request that the lighting in particular is installed as soon as possible. And there is considerable concern about the delay in the improvements to the slip-road, bearing in mind there is plenty of verge space, and the land is already owned by you.
“The safety hazards of the current slip road were clearly indicated by your own survey. So why the delay? If it is a matter of money, please say so and we will contact Kate Forbes to see if she can help.”
Troubling history
August 2011: Two children treated after a bus and a car collide.
March 2013: Collision involving Stagecoach bus and Wiseman Dairies HGV. Minor injuries only.
December 2019: A 16-year-old boy is killed after three-car crash.
September 2020: Consultants begin a long safety probe.
March 2021: Over 100 ‘conflicts’ recorded at the junction by consultants over just two hours.
October 2021: Transport Scotland says it will install lighting while longer-term fixes considered.
November 2021: Woman (86) dies after collision.
Related: Dashcam footage appeal after woman dies at junction
Transport Scotland to install lighting at Munlochy junction
Munlochy housing go-ahead amid concerns over impact on junction traffic
