Safety study to focus on Tain's danger junctions
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OPTIONS for improving two junctions in Easter Ross could be on the table next month following fears someone will die in a horror car smash at one of the black spots.
MSP Rhoda Grant demanded to know what steps were being taken to allay the community’s safety concerns over the accident-prone junctions close to Asda and Lidl at Tain.
Transport Scotland’s roads director Hugh Gillies responded this week indicating police may need to take a tougher stance on speeding and overtaking.
He also said video survey results were being fed into a study which sets out safety options, and which should be available by the end of next month.
Mrs Grant was pleased Transport Scotland "is taking this very seriously".
Local MP Jamie Stone was also buoyed by news saying it was a welcome change after what he described as "a blanket refusal by the Scottish Government to recognise that there was something seriously wrong".
There have been calls for a radical rethink to prevent fatalities at the junctions for several years.
A recent smash near Tain – which has five accesses onto the busy A9 – sparked demands from Westminster, Holyrood and Highland Council representatives for safety measures to be introduced.
Two people were taken to hospital for treatment following April’s two-car collision at the Knockbreck Road junction close to the Asda superstore.
It forced closure of the A9 and re-opened a debate on the future of the Tain bypass.
A number of locals believe roundabouts at Morangie and Knockbreck – mirroring the layout at Forres – may be the solution.
Community council secretary David Macdonald described the junctions as "not fit for purpose".
And SNP MSP Gail Ross wrote to the Transport Minister saying investigation reports should have been completed months ago.
This week Mrs Grant welcomed the response from Mr Gillies.
"I am pleased that Transport Scotland is taking this very seriously and it has taken into account not only safety performance but video surveys of both junctions to see exactly what is happening," she said.
"These surveys have highlighted any near-misses or conflicts as well as incidents which have happened to increase the risk of a collision without necessary appearing in personal injury accident records.
"The agency has assured me that on-going work at the junctions remains a high priority."
Liberal Democrat MP Jamie Stone said: "What I have found incredibly frustrating over the last few years was there seemed to be a blanket refusal by the Scottish Government to recognise that there was something seriously wrong with both these junctions.
"I live opposite the southernmost one and my wife and I can confirm the sound of the crash and the emergency helicopter has been all too common.
He said it was "an absolute miracle" that there had not been a fatality, adding: "To my mind the community very much expect action and by this I mean some form of redesign of the junctions that will incorporate safety features."
A Scottish Transport spokesman said a review of the A9/B9174 Tain junctions last year did not identify any accident pattern that could be addressed.
He added: "Road safety is a priority for the Scottish Government and we understand the concerns of the community."
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