Concerns Grow as A90 Accident Blackspot Junction Repaired 41 Times in a Year
The A90/A952 Cortes junction in Aberdeenshire has seen 41 repairs in a year, raising safety concerns and calls for a roundabout.
Aberdeenshire, A90, A952, Cortes Junction, Douglas Lumsden, Road Safety
Aberdeenshire: There’s been a lot of talk about a dangerous junction. It’s the A90/A952 Cortes junction, and it’s been repaired 41 times in just one year. That’s a lot, right?
Douglas Lumsden, a local MSP, is really worried. He wants the Scottish Government to replace this junction with a roundabout. He says repairs have shot up by over 700%!
Recent figures show that the number of repairs has more than doubled since last year. Back in 2019, only five repairs were needed. It’s clear something needs to change.
Lumsden pointed out that the junction is in a “woeful state.” He believes a roundabout would make it safer, especially since it’s a blind spot for drivers.
Meanwhile, Nestrans, the regional transport body, is considering plans for a new roundabout at this junction. They’re looking into it as part of a transport study.
Amey, the company managing the north-east trunk road network, is also reviewing the junction for safety. They’re responding to concerns from Aberdeenshire Council.
Other areas along the A90 are facing similar issues. For example, the Longhaven junction has also seen more repairs lately.
Lumsden emphasized that the current state of the Cortes junction is not acceptable. He mentioned that drivers only have about 10 seconds of visibility before they enter the junction.
He argued that instead of just patching it up, the Scottish Government should commit to a proper upgrade. Leaving it as is could lead to more accidents.
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A Transport Scotland spokesperson said they prioritize road safety. They’re planning to invest over £714 million in maintaining the trunk road network.
They noted that the rise in repairs isn’t surprising due to recent storms affecting Scotland. They’ll keep monitoring the situation and adjust their maintenance plans as needed.