End of the road for climate wrecking A96 dualling plan
The SNP’s announcement that fully dualling the A96 by 2030 will not be possible shows why the investment should instead be made in public transport and road safety improvements in the North East, says Scottish Greens spokesperson for transport Mark Ruskell MSP.
The Scottish Greens have consistently called for A96 full dualling to be halted, and secured a review of the proposals as part of their co-operation agreement with the Scottish Government.
That review, published today, has concluded that a package of investment in road safety improvements, bypasses and public transport measures is preferable and more cost effective.
Mr Ruskell said:
“The report is clear about the vast financial and environmental cost of the option to fully dual the A96. Spending 5,000 million pounds on full dualling would be a folly when a package to invest in road safety, public transport and bypasses could be achieved for one fifth of the cost,”
“Communities along the A96 corridor need to benefit now from a range of investments which will have a much more positive impact than dualling every square inch of one of Scotland’s biggest roads.
“What the SNP has spent the last 15 years calling for was unaffordable and undeliverable, and there was no economic or environmental case for it. We need to cut carbon emissions, congestion and provide real investment in public transport and road safety.
“Today’s report has blown the government’s case out of the water, and proven how weak it was. The SNP must listen and finally make clear that full dualling is shelved once and for all."
Mr Ruskell added:
“There are areas on the A96 that will greatly benefit from bypasses and road safety improvements, specifically around Elgin and Keith, and I hope that the Scottish Government will now accelerate the delivery of these."