The Press and Journal (Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire)
Ten good reasons to dual the A96
Let’s be honest, the A96 is probably more suited to horses and carts in a lot of sections than modern traffic. It’s the main road between the major cities of Aberdeen and Inverness, and has huge volumes of cars, vans and lorries daily.
But it’s still a horrendous patchwork of single carriageways, overtaking lanes reminiscent of Wacky Races, and the occasional rare bit of dualling.
Long-promised dualling plans have been repeatedly kicked down the road, and there have been doubts over the project going ahead due to environmental concerns.
The fact remains, however, the longer action is delayed, the longer people have to deal with this dangerous road.
We spotlight the worst sections.
1. OYNE FORK
As we begin our journey from Aberdeen to Inverness, we start on the best bit of A96 dualling.
It’s smooth sailing all the way through Blackburn, past Kintore, and up to Inverurie.
But as we pass Inverurie, the four lanes cut to two.
Our first example of the worst bits of the A96 is the notorious Oyne Fork, site of many crashes and road closures over the years.
The junction connects the A96 with the road to Oyne, Insch and beyond. It’s a tight turn-off, located in the middle of a long bend which traffic tends to take at speed. Extreme caution is recommended, and watch for vehicles pulling out of the Insch road on to the A96.
2. COLPY JUNCTION
Another of the A96’s dodgiest sections. The junction links the A96 east to the rural A920 out to Oldmeldrum.
Last month, a review of road markings and signs in the area was announced after 11 collisions involving injuries were recorded between 2020 and 2022.
For drivers coming off the Oldmeldrum road, it can be really difficult turning on to the A96, as traffic tends to speed up to take advantage of a rare straight.
3. OVERTAKING LANES BETWEEN MORGAN MCVEIGHS AND HUNTLY
The overtaking lanes along this very bendy stretch can be good for overtaking tractors or other slower vehicles, but pent-up rage from being stuck in tailbacks means some drivers overtake a bit fast in these lanes. Because they’re so short, it can result in dangerous races to clear the traffic before the overtaking lanes run out.
Add to this, in winter the area can get really bad for snow.
4. TESCO JUNCTION ‘DEATH TRAP’ JUST PAST HUNTLY
The junction linking the A96 to the A920 Dufftown road is one of the worst on its entire length.
The run-up to turning left on to the Dufftown road is incredibly short, and right across from the busy turn-off to Huntly’s Tesco.
It’s worst of all for traffic turning into the A96 from either side, who have to contend with poor views of 60mph traffic coming from both north and south. Last year, it was identified in a road safety review as in need of “further investigation and mitigation”, and one MSP dubbed it a “death trap”.
5. EVERYTHING ABOUT THE A96 THROUGH KEITH
The first major community the A96 traffic actually thunders straight through is Keith.
Why do we have a major intercity road full of lorries carrying massive loads just inches from people’s front doors? And how would dualling work here?
It also causes frustration for drivers dealing with traffic lights and queues in the middle of Keith.
In March, a project got under way to improve crossing points on the A96 as it runs through Keith.
6. ELGIN AND ITS ENDLESS ROUNDABOUTS
All traffic is forced on to the only route through the town but on a two-mile stretch between KFC to the east of Elgin and Dr Gray’s Hospital on the west side, there are eight roundabouts.
There are left-turn filter lanes, right-turn filter lanes and some have three options.
Elgin is the largest town on the route and campaigns for a bypass have been running since the early 2000s.
7. ALVES OVERTAKING LANE
Picture the scene. You’ve been quietly biding your time on the way from Inverness to Aberdeen.
There’s been a few buses and plenty of lorries as you dream of full A96 dualling.
You’ve been stuck behind them, but you’re getting there. Slowly.
But suddenly, there’s hope. The first overtaking lane on your journey is on the horizon.
The only problem is the crawler lane just after the village of Alves is less than half a mile long.
You’ve hardly got enough time to celebrate getting past someone before the next slow-moving vehicle appears.
And as a result, more often than not it is an absolute zoo. It’s little wonder that it’s a common place for police to sit at.
8. BRODIE
The facts certainly back this up as an accident blackspot.
There were five accidents in a single week here last summer.
As a result, a speed survey has been carried out by Transport Scotland, with the results currently under review.
Campaigners have been pushing for changes to the layout of the road. And hopefully, those changes should now happen.
9. ARDERSIER JUNCTIONS
You could quite comfortably lump these two junctions together, given they are both ultimately heading to the same place.
On either side of Inverness Airport, you have roads heading towards the village of Ardersier.
It’s an easy left-hand turn for either on the way there.
But if you’re heading towards Inverness – like many people do every weekday morning – it’s a tricky right-turn across a fast road packed with commuters.
The B9006 version has the added difficulty of it being a staggered crossroads with the junction close to the old Highland Food Stop.
The B9039 doesn’t have anything like that.
Instead it’s just a blind bend for people turning right to worry about.
10. BALLOCH
Why would someone choose a slower route through Culloden to get to Balloch from Inverness city centre?
Why not just stay on the A96? After all, Google Maps says it’s two minutes quicker.
Have a go yourself at 8.30am on a weekday morning and you’ll soon have your answer.
It’s almost like inching out across vehicles rattling past you at 60mph feels unsafe or something!
Yes, I may have lost those extra two minutes. But think of the money I’ve saved on deodorant.