Transport chiefs could slash a controversial speed limit on one of the region’s busiest roads even further – despite claims there is “no justification” for the current 50mph restriction.
Sections of the A90 Aberdeen to Fraserburgh road could be reduced to 40mph while work on the Aberdeen bypass and Balmedie-Tipperty dualling is carried out.
A 50mph restriction is already in place from Ellon to the Murcar roundabout, with average speed cameras in operation between Blackdog and Balmedie to crackdown on speeders.
But now Transport Scotland is considering further reducing the limit at the more dangerous parts of the road, such as where the lanes narrow – or at the junctions at Blackdog, Balmedie, Tipperty and Newburgh.
Last night, Ellon and district councillor Gillian Owen criticised the idea and said more attention should be paid to those outwith the speed camera section.
She claimed many vehicles – particularly lorries – were continuing to flout the 50mph limit.
She added: “I think we need justification as to why the dual carriageway between Ellon and Tipperty is 50mph because actually there is nothing happening on that stretch.
“The justification for that needs to be established. People are not adhering to the 50mph and are less likely to adhere to a 40mph.
“Even with cameras, if the speed can’t be controlled at 50mph, how can it be controlled at 40mph?
“I understand where they are coming from about safety from the Balmedie stretch and through. Workers do need to be safe.”
Mid-Formartine councillor Allan Hendry said 40mph limits would only be needed at the four locations along the A90 as part of contra-flow measures as work progresses.
He said: “Everything is being built off the road at the moment. Once they start building onto the road, obviously they are going to have to divert traffic around the bit they are doing.
“It is not set in stone, but it may happen.
“It is not going to be a block 40mph limit all the way from Ellon to Murcar. There will not be a 40mph limit all the way along the road.
“At the end of the day the main thing is the safety of the public and the safety of the road workers working at the edge of the road.”
A Transport Scotland spokesman said although there were no firm plans to reduce the limit to 40mph, it “may” be required as works progress.
He added: “The 50mph between Murcar and Ellon was agreed with stakeholders to help ensure driver and worker safety while works increase in this area.
“The speed limit was reduced to 50mph between the Murcar roundabout and the Ellon roundabout to ensure road workers could continue to construct the new road safely while road users continue to use the A90.
“As works progress, the speed restriction may require to be reduced to 40mph on sections of the A90 between Murcar and Ellon.”
Work is currently underway to dual the seven-and-a-half miles between Blackdog and Tipperty as part of the AWPR project.
This would be linked into the 10-mile “northern section” of the AWPR, which will run from Kingswells to Blackdog.
