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Street lighting on A9/B9161 Munlochy junction accident black spot welcomed as Black Isle MSP Kate Forbes pushes for further progress after long campaign over safety


By Hector MacKenzie

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Kate Forbes at the junction.
Kate Forbes at the junction.

Kate Forbes MSP has said she hopes that the new street lighting around the notorious Munlochy junction will help improve road safety at the accident black spot.

The works – which began in December – concluded last week when testing for the lighting was completed on Friday evening.

It is also hoped that the right turn from the B9161 onto the northbound carriageway – crossing four lanes of 70mph traffic – will soon be prohibited with Highland Council undertaking the necessary statutory process.

Kate Forbes MSP has been a prolific campaigner for road safety improvements to the Munlochy junction, and her initial survey – which attracted almost 2500 responses – helped kickstart Transport Scotland’s own investigations.

Longer-term work – such as consideration of a junction similar to that of North Kessock in place of the existing Munlochy junction – is still ongoing as part of a package of improvement works along the North Kessock to Tore roundabout stretch of the A9.

Kate Forbes MSP said: “I drive through this stretch regularly and have been noticing the gradual construction and implementation of the street lighting at Munlochy Junction.

“Though we are in the brighter summer months at the moment, I would hope that the new lighting will help improve road safety in the winter.

“Throughout this process I have been urging Transport Scotland to implement quick wins as soon as possible, and the lighting is one example of that.

“I hope we can see further progress on meaningful options, including closing the right turn from the B9161 to the A9 northbound carriageway and also extending the southbound slipway.

“We are all aware of the problems, and Munlochy Junction continues to pose concerns for users – with an ever-increasing volume of traffic.

“I will continue to engage with Transport Scotland about the longer-term options, though these will take a considerable period of time to come to fruition.”

Related: Transport Scotland to install lighting at accident blackspot

More on the junction and accidents which have occurred there


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