An MSP has warned campaigners fighting for a flyover to be built at a north-east road junction that the “toughest” battle lies ahead.
Conservative Alex Johnstone said the Scottish Government had not yet made a commitment to pay for major improvements over the A90 Aberdeen to Dundee road near Laurencekirk.
He said Transport Minister Derek Mackay had only said he agreed with a recommendation made by transport body Nestrans that a so-called grade separated junction should be instaled at the junction with the A937 Laurencekirk-Montrose road.
Mr Johnstone made the remarks yesterday after Holyrood’s infrastructure committee, which has been examining a petition for action lodged by campaigner Jill Fotheringham, decided to monitor the project until it was open to traffic.
The Tory MSP told members that funding was a serious issue and it was important that “we do not take our eye off the ball at this stage.”
It is not yet clear when the flyover would be built or how much it would cost but Transport Scotland has previously pegged it between £13.5million and £17.1million.
Ms Fotheringham of Montrose and her supporters have been campaigning for action since 2004.
Mr Johnstone said: “The money is the issue and at this stage we have no commitment from the government that it will be available, merely an acceptance from the minister.
“So perhaps the toughest part of this campaign is still in front of us.”
The Scottish Government is keen for developers to make a contribution to the costs but Mr Johnstone said he was not convinced it was appropriate.
“The justification for improvement is about the impact on the trunk road and access from areas in north Angus,” he added.
“So the idea that developer contributions in the Laurencekirk area should have any part to play in this is difficult to justify.
“It is up to government to take a strong lead and bring forward a significant proportion of resources and make sure that local authorities are made aware of their responsibilities.”
Angus Mearns and North SNP MSP Nigel Don said the cross-party campaign for a flyover was “dear to my heart”.
“I am personally not going to be happy until a grade separated junction is constructed and that will take years even if there is a positive move immediately,” he added.
Ms Fotheringham welcomed the committee decision to monitor the flyover construction process until it is open to traffic.
The florist, who has thousands of supporters, said she hoped MSPs would ensure that all the organisations involved made it a priority for early completion.
Ms Fotheringham said: “I was pleased that the committee decided to keep the petition open and that it will remain so until the flyover is in place.
“I was worried that if it was closed the whole thing would be swept under the carpet.
“I am aware that talks will be ongoing on how to bring this forward but Transport Scotland has, finally, accepted that the junction needs to be upgraded now so it should be done without any further delays.
“You cannot put a price on human life because we have played Russian roulette long enough at that junction.”
A spokeswoman for Transport Scotland said SNP ministers were committed to improving the A90 at Laurencekirk and the identification of a grade-separated junction as the preferred option was widely welcomed.
“We will begin discussions with our partners next week on what the next steps are for the project, including matters around funding,” she added.
A spokesman for Transport Minister Derek Mackay said: “The irony of the Conservatives calling for such a commitment at the same time as George Osborne ploughs on with cuts to the Scottish budget this year won’t be lost on many.
“The cut of £107million comes on top of an overall budget cut of 9% since 2010, including a 25% cut to our capital budget.”