Transport Secretary Michael Matheson has ruled out leading a project to improve safety at a notorious north-east junction.
Campaigners have repeatedly called for improvements to the Toll of Birness, which links the A90 Aberdeen to Peterhead road with the A952 to Fraserburgh.
There have been a spate of accidents at the junction – including a serious crash last Thursday.
Aberdeenshire East SNP MSP Gillian Martin asked Mr Matheson what investment the Scottish Government could offer to build a roundabout at the spot.
But Mr Matheson has said any new safety measures would have to be led by Aberdeenshire Council and developer contributions from two nearby housing projects.
The two projects, Bancon Home’s Nether Aden and Colaren’s North Woods in the Mintlaw area, will add an extra 1,100 homes onto Aberdeenshire Council’s roads network.
Transport Scotland said it had been in discussions with the authority about the developments since March 2016, and that they were “clear” any improvements would have to be led by the council.
Last night Conservative councillor Gillian Owen, who has been leading the campaign to dual the A90 beyond Ellon, said: “The A90 around the Toll of Birness is a complete death-trap, yet it now seems the Scottish Government don’t want any involvement in solving the issues faced on the route.”
A Transport Scotland spokeswoman said: “Transport Scotland has been engaged in discussions with Aberdeenshire Council and developers since March 2016 specifically in the context of the impact that the development in Mintlaw may have on the safe and efficient operation of the A90 Toll of Birness junction.
“We are clear that any potential development-led scheme could result in improvements such as a roundabout, however, this would be led by other parties to address the impact of the development and not as a consequence of road safety evidence.
“The longer term consideration of the routes and junctions north of Aberdeen will be in the context of the ongoing Strategic Transport Appraisal, part of the Aberdeen City Region Deal, and through the second Strategic Transport Projects Review.”
Ms Martin said she was keen for negotiations to progress.
She accused the Tories of “playing politics with road safety”, and said: “Instead of blaming others, they should be getting behind those in the council and Transport Scotland working together to come up with solutions.
“If there are developer obligations to be used, then I’d like to see this moved on, instead of being a political football.”
