Chiefs urged to keep roundabout promise
Investigation was supposed to be done last year
A Perth councillor has urged transport chiefs to stick to their latest commitment to recommend improvements to Perth’s busy Broxden roundabout.
Scottish Liberal Democrat councillor Willie Wilson reckons Transport Scotland must get on with road investigations which were supposed to be completed last year amid concern that congestion at the junction is getting steadily worse.
It comes after a spokesperson admitted a report on whether widening the roundabout as well as its approaches and exits would reduce hold-ups the agency said would be ready by the end of July last year has still not be finished.
Councillor Wilson told the Perthshire Advertiser: “After nearly five years of dithering and delay, we still have no proposals to improve traffic flow and safety at Broxden roundabout. Transport
Scotland says it has an initial report, but needs to complete geotechnical investigation work before discussions [can begin] to agree a way forward.
“It claims this will be done by the end of March, but it told us last summer that these would have been completed by October 2019, and told us in 2018 that it would have all information ready early in 2019.
“There is still no sign of a programme or proposals for consultation to tackle this. I have called on the SNP government to get a grip of this situation and give us a working plan. Any further delay is just not acceptable.”
Party colleague and local campaigner Liz Barrett added: “There are constant tailbacks to the roundabout from Stirling/Glasgow and Dundee/Edinburgh directions and coming south from Inveralmond. These long delays lead to dangerous frustration for drivers, lost time and cost money. Now local residents in Ruthven Park and Oakbank are having to put up with traffic cutting through residential streets in an effort to avoid Broxden. The Scottish Government must step up to the plate and tell us when this mayhem will be addressed.”
A Transport Scotland spokesperson told the PA this week: “We are continuing to work with our operating company to investigate potential options which can be considered for improvements to the Broxden roundabout.
“These improvements add to work previously undertaken by PKC in the preparation of its local development plan, which required further refinement to support its consideration.
“The final phase of the current investigation involves geotechnical investigation surveys on and around the roundabout and the approach roads is programmed to commence on site next week.
“Once complete, our design team will be better placed to identify options which can be taken forward for consideration.
“As we have made clear in discussions with the council and developers, there is no delivery programme for any improvement at this point as the delivery of any upgrade is tied in part to the provision of developer contributions from surrounding sites and the availability of any future budgets.”