Councillor demands action to build more A9 flyovers.

Councillor says drivers are having to cross central reservation to get to some villages

Money must be spent to build flyovers on the A9 Perth to Dunblane road, claims a councillor, who said many residents are “living in fear.”

Crawford Reid, a Scottish Conservative representative for the Strathallan ward, believes the situation regarding “dangerous” crossings on the road has got “out of hand.”

He says motorists from Blackford, Dunning, Auchterarder and Aberuthven are all taking their lives in their hands every time they drive into the villages from the A9.

Motorists still have to cross the road from the central reservation to access these villages.

The A90 Perth to Dundee road had a similar situation until a series of flyovers were built at Glenfarg, Inchmichael, Inchture and Longforgan due to concerns over accidents at these locations.

Mr Crawford said Transport Scotland should follow suit on the A9.

“Residents in Blackford, Dunning, Auchterarder and Aberuthven are basically living in fear,” he said.

“I’ve come up with a list of suggestions, including reducing the speed on the road and also taking away these crossings and replacing them with flyovers.

“You don’t like to think of a scenario when a bus carrying schoolchildren is about to use one of the central reservation crossings and it’s a dark, dreich night.

“I have been told there are around 27,000 vehicles use this stretch of the A9 every day. I’ve passed my thoughts on to Transport Scotland but I feel they are impotent.

“I’ve also been told there are around 30,000 vehicles that travel every day between Perth and Dundee on the A90 but they took the crossings away on that road and built flyovers.

“The problem on the A9 could be solved by goodwill from Transport Scotland but I feel they are keeping people in the dark about this matter.”

However, a Transport Scotland spokesperson said that road safety is of “paramount importance” to them.

“Transport Scotland assess the safety performance of the trunk road network on an annual basis, including the A9,” he said.

“Our investment in the A9 average speed camera system has significantly transformed driver behaviour, with the latest figures demonstrating a 31% reduction in fatal and serious casualties on the A9 Dunblane to Inverness route.”

You don’t like to think of a scenario when a bus carrying children is about to use one of the central reservation crossings and it’s a dark, dreich night. COUNCILLOR CRAWFORD REID

Picture: Phil Hannah. An accident at Blackford Junction on the A9. Now a local councillor is calling for flyovers on that stretch of the road so drivers do not have to cross into oncoming traffic.