Christine Grahame, SNP MP for Midlothian South, Tweeddale and Lauderdale, is pressing for the creation of an extra lane as an interim solution to the long tailbacks at one of the busiest junctions on the A720 Edinburgh City Bypass.
She said some motorists already used scrub land next to the A7 as an unofficial extra lane and someone had even laid a length of tarmac, says Edinburgh News. Now she has written to Transport Scotland calling for the lane to be “done properly”.
The full upgrade of Sheriffhall roundabout – with a flyover to separate through-traffic from vehicles on more local journeys – was awarded funding under the Edinburgh and South East Scotland City Region deal in 2017.
In 2020 the plans were put on hold to allow a review of the project as part of a Scottish Government budget deal with the Greens. A public local inquiry was eventually held in early 2023 and the report delivered to the Scottish Government in early 2024. But it is still being considered by officials.
Christine Grahame MSP said:
“As you come up the A7 from the Borders there’s a wee roundabout to go to Dobbie’s Garden Centre and just after that you’re into two lanes down to the roundabout at Sheriffhall, but folk have been making an ad hoc third lane that would take you directly left onto the bypass to Glasgow.
“Someone, I don’t know who, has put a bit of tarmac on the rough land, but it’s just rough and ready and runs for about 10-12 yards. My suggestion is why don’t they just do it properly so we have a longer stretch, properly marked out, that would allow cars to go left.
“At the moment, when the lights change, only three or four cars can get through there to go left or straight ahead. Car drivers are making their own decision and bumping up on the rough bit and if we just did it properly as a lane it would make more sense.”
A Transport Scotland spokesperson said:
“This is not a proposal which Transport Scotland has considered in detail to date. However, the feasibility could be considered with the close collaboration of Midlothian Council, as the relevant roads authority with responsibility for the A7 to Galashiels.”
(Picture: Clearview)(
