SNP leadership hopeful promises action on A9 dualling
One of the MSPs in the running to become Scotland’s First Minister is promising to publish a revised timetable for the dualling of the A9 road by June this year if she’s elected to the job. The Press and Journal says Kate Forbes warns failure to do so could result in a completion date of […]
Scottish LEZ projects “already cost £36m”
Preparation work for Low Emission Zones in four cities in Scotland has cost £36 million before any of them are up and running. The Scottish Daily Express reports the schemes being set up in Glasgow (pictured), Edinburgh, Aberdeen and Dundee have run up costs for grants given to councils to help them run their schemes […]
Scottish transport minister apologises for A9 upgrade delays
Scotland’s transport minister Jenny Gilruth has apologised for her Government’s failure to realise its promise to dual the A9 by its 2025 deadline. In an exclusive interview with Highland News & Media, Ms Gilruth said: “I recognise the frustration here and I do apologise to the communities in the north of Scotland, it should have […]
Kincardine Bridge contract awarded to Balfour Beatty as works get the go-ahead
Transport Scotland has awarded the £16.85m contract to replace an 80-metre section of the Kincardine Bridge to Balfour Beatty. The project, with main works on site expected to get underway from early summer, will involve demolishing the Kincardine Bridge’s southern piled viaduct and replacing it with a completely new reinforced concrete structure. Construction is expected […]
Scottish Government launches sustainable scrappage pilot
The Scottish Government is offering cash incentives and “Travel Better” vouchers for households in an attempt to remove the more polluting cars from the roads. The £900,000 Mobility and Scrappage fund is to be piloted in lower income and Air Quality Management Areas in Scotland, including the Islands communities. The fund, delivered by Energy Saving […]
New junction opens on M9
The new Junction 1B on the M9 west of Edinburgh is partially opened today (Friday 10 February). The slip roads onto northbound routes mark the first stage of a £50m programme to upgrade transport links to the expanding town of Winchburgh. Transport Scotland says that, as well as serving new housing and business, the construction […]
A9 dualling target date to be missed as Scottish Government sets out new plans
The Scottish Government has admitted its plans to turn the A9 into a dual carriageway by 2025 will not be achieved, as it set out its plans for dualling the A9 between Perth and Inverness. However it has reiterated its “unwavering commitment to deliver the benefits of the completed programme” despite what it calls “significant […]
Under-22s had 45 million free bus journeys in Scotland in first year of scheme
Almost 45 million free bus journeys have been made since the Scottish Government introduced free bus travel for under 22s a year ago. More than a third of the population, over 2.3 million people – everyone under 22, everyone over 60, and disabled people and carers – are eligible for free bus travel in Scotland. […]
Scotland’s transport minister chairs Rest and Be Thankful taskforce improvements meeting
Transport Minister Jenny Gilruth chaired the latest meeting of the A83 Taskforce in Arrochar to provide an update on medium term solutions for the Rest and be Thankful. The Minister confirmed that realignment work to the south end of the existing Old Military Road through the Glen Croe corridor will get underway later this year. […]
Rest and Be Thankful road shut for a week due to landslip fears
The key A83 route in Scotland at Rest and Be Thankful, which is used as a way to travel between Glasgow and west coast has been shut for a week because the hillside overlooking it is saturated after a period of heavy rain. Traffic is being diverted along a single-lane road nearby with a convoy […]