Dave Thompson, SNP MSP for Skye, Lochaber and Badenoch, has welcomed the announcement from Transport Scotland of a series of measures to improve the A830.
Transport Scotland outlined the programme of improvements at a public meeting in Arisaig chaired by Dave Thompson, which include a speed limit reduction to 50 mph between Glenfinnan and Lochailort, a five year programme of bridge improvements and high friction surfacing to be laid at another 3 bends.
Commenting on this, Dave said: “I welcome Transport Scotland’s comprehensive programme of improvements for the A830, and their willingness to engage with the local community on these measures.
Dave chaired the public meeting last Friday (26th October), which brought together officials from the national transport agency, community councillors and members of the public.
Transport Scotland also announced that the white lining would be renewed at Glenfinnan and the eastern end of Loch Eilt, a continuation of the Variable Message Signs (VMS) trial to highlight severe bends and the temporary replacement of tubular parapets with pedestrian parapets.
John and Jan Bryden, who have long campaigned for A830 improvements, said of the meeting;
“A weight has been lifted from our shoulders. Dave has stood by us. We were delighted with his help and we cannot thank him enough.
“We are elated too that Transport Scotland is taking these actions and we cannot praise their professional handling of this whole process enough.
Adding to this, Dave said: “The measures announced by Transport Scotland will improve the safety of the A830 for all drivers in both the short and long term.
The two public meetings held in the last year have enabled Transport Scotland to get the views of the local community who rely on this road every day, and I welcome the commitment to continue this engagement through additional speed surveys.
These improvements are good news for Lochaber, and I look forward to further progress being made.
Note:
The Transport Scotland Press release on the meeting is below:
PRESS RELEASE
30 October 2012
A830 meeting yields results
The A830 will benefit from a series of improvements Transport Scotland announced today.
These measures have come about following a meeting last Friday (26 October) in Arisaig between the officials from the national transport agency, local elected members, community councillors, and members of the public.
The measures proposed include:
* High Friction Surfacing (HFS) laid at a further 3 bends.
* a speed limit reduction to 50 mph between Glenfinnan and Lochailort.
* white lining renewals between Glenfinnan and the eastern end of Loch Eilt
* continuation of the Variable Message Signs (VMS) trial to highlight severe bends
* additional speed surveys to evaluate usefulness of more permanent signs
* replace tubular parapets with pedestrian parapets as a short term measure
* a five year long term programme to replace existing parapets with vehicle containment parapets to current standards
Transport Scotland's Route Manager for the north, Andy Anderson said:
"Safety is a number one priority for Transport Scotland and we value productive meetings like this one that enable us to listen to communities' concerns. From this we were able to agree and roll out a number of measure which will further help to improve safety on the A830.
"As well as the proposed engineering measures, which include laying high friction surfacing on a number of bends, renewing road lining, barrier replacements and a long term programme of bridge improvements and widening - we will take forward further work with professional partners to explore the opportunity for increased education aimed at both motorcyclists and visitors to the area.
"We will also continue to liaise with Scottish National Heritage and local deer managers to determine if there are any appropriate measures which can be taken to reduce the very real dangers created by deer on the road."
NOTES TO EDITORS
Transport Scotland is the Scottish Government's national transport agency responsible for; aviation, bus, freight and taxi policy; coordinating the National Transport Strategy for Scotland; ferries, ports and harbours; impartial travel services; liaising with regional transport partnerships, including monitoring of funding; local roads policy; major public transport projects; national concessionary travel schemes; rail and trunk road networks; sustainable transport, road safety and accessibility; the Blue Badge Scheme. Transport Scotland is an Executive agency accountable to Scottish Ministers. http://www.transportscotland.gov.uk/
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