A notorious accident hotspot on the A9 in Ross-shire could be redesigned as Transport Scotland considers implementing roundabouts to improve road safety.
The implementation of the traffic calming measure – which has long been called for by campaigners – could be introduced on the busy route north as Transport Scotland seeks to bring in a consultant to review long-term engineering options for the stretch at both the Asda and Lidl junctions at Tain.
The move comes on the back of a similar traffic calming measure as the government agency committed to consulting members of the local community on reducing the speed limit to 50mph back in September.
A Transport Scotland spokesman said: “Alongside signage improvements and a proposed reduction in the current speed limit to 50mph, we are also currently in the process of hiring a consultant to specifically identify problems, opportunities, issues and constraints with the existing junction access to Tain.
“This will allow any potential solutions, which could include roundabouts, to be assessed against evidence and ensure any additional changes help improve current accident trends at Tain.”
Local campaigner Michael Baird yesterday said: “I am extremely happy that this consultant will be coming on board and will seriously going to be looking at the prospect of introducing roundabouts because at the end of the day it is what we have called for and it is, what I feel, the only measure that is going to make that road safer.
“I would call upon Transport Scotland to make it a priority because we simply don’t want to see any more any more accidents and we certainly don’t want to see any more fatalities.”
Highlands and Islands MSP Rhoda Grant said: “This is good news, but I have to raise a note of caution as Transport Scotland has told me that any larger-scale projects will be subject to funding and will compete with other priorities on the trunk road network.
“I do hope the Scottish Government will see this as a priority for funding given the number of accidents and near misses on this stretch.
“The community is anxious to avoid a serious accident or a fatality at these junctions, so I hope planning these longer-term improvements will not take long.
“I hope that Transport Scotland will also look at other alternatives in the long term that provide safety as well as ensuring the journey north is not permanently lengthened.”
The stretch of road, and in particular the Asda junction towards the south side of Tain, was highlighted by the Press and Journal as the worst accident hotspot on the A9 between Perth and Thurso over the past five years, with 11 accidents occurring at the location.
