§ Sir Hector MonroTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland when he will publish the roads report; and if he will make a statement about progress on trunk road schemes during 1991–92 and those it is proposed to start in the next three years.
§ Mr. LangI am today publishing the report, "Roads, Traffic and Safety 1992", copies of which have been placed in the Library together with an associated summary.
In the last fortnight, there have been three major Scottish publications dealing with road accidents, roads in the countryside, and the operational management of the road network. A consultation document will also be published tomorrow on the options for improving travel links around the Forth estuary. The report I am publishing today puts all these initiatives in the context of our overall strategic plans for the 1990s which have been developed following the completion of a major review of Scotland's key roads. The report details our medium-term strategy for the further improvement and better management of the network. It considers what further developments might be expected in the longer term. It sets out our road safety achievements and future objectives, and considers the special needs of local roads in urban areas.
I am also listing those major schemes planned to start in the three years ahead following the increase in resources I announced at the end of last year under public expenditure plans for road construction. The range and importance of the schemes selected demonstrates our commitment to the strategic goals which are set out in the report for the improvement of the trunk road network.
Schemes with an estimated cost of over £3 million started since 1 April 1991 or for which contracts are expected to be placed before 31 March 1992:
- M8 St James Interchange
- M74 Maryville-West Fullarton Road
- A74(M) Nether Abington-Elvanfoot
- A96 Bucksburn Diversion
- A9 Greenloaning-Blackford
- A929 Tarbrax-Forfar
These schemes have a total value in excess of £100 million.
Schemes with an estimated cost of over £3 million expected to start between 1 April 1992 and 31 March 1995;
1992–93
- A94 Brechin Bypass (dualling)
- A74(M) Lockerbie Bypass (Muirhouse-Water of Milk)
- A74(M) Water of Milk-Ecclefechan
- A74(M) Eaglesfield-Kirkpatrick Fleming (or alternative A74(M) scheme)
- A830 Morar Bypass (Lochan Doilead-Kinsadel)
260 - A87 Skye Bridge Approach Roads
- M8 Newbridge to Edinburgh City Bypass
1993–94 and 1994–95
- A77 Ayr Road Route
- A74(M) Paddy's Rickle-Greenhillstairs
- A96 Kintore Bypass
- A96 Keith Bypass
- A77 Glasgow to Ayr dualling (Fenwick—B764)
- A1 Tranent-Haddington
- A8/M8 North Lanarkshire access improvements
These schemes have a total value in excess of £330 million. Our plans are, of course, subject to the satisfactory completion of statutory procedures and the necessary preparatory work.
The work in progress and planned will fulfil our commitment to dual the A9 between Stirling and Perth. Our commitment to dual the Perth to Aberdeen route will also be fulfilled. The Perth-Aberdeen route will be renumbered the A90, thus creating the arterial M90/A90 route from Edinburgh to Aberdeen.
The schemes being announced for the A74 upgrading mean that over 60 per cent. of the new motorway to replace the A74 in Scotland is already either open, under construction or firmly programmed to start.
The Glasgow-Ayr motorway/near motorway route will be taken forward with the construction of the new trunk road section outwith Glasgow, to meet Strathclyde regional council's new M77 road, together with the first of the two new dualling schemes on the remainder of the route.
The plans include provision of the two remaining sections of the A8 upgrading. The M8 Newbridge-Edinburgh scheme is subject to the results of the public local inquiry recently completed; the M8 north Lanarkshire scheme timetable is ambitious, but, with the continued co-operation of all concerned, I am sure it can be achieved.
Following our announcement on the A1, financial provision has been made to commence the dualling of the route.
In addition to the major schemes starts, funding for other schemes, road safety schemes and route action plans is being substantially increased. We will continue the very good progress which has already been made on the A96 Aberdeen-Inverness; A7 Edinburgh-M6; and Al Edinburgh-Newcastle action plans. The A90 Perth-Dundee road will be upgraded to near motorway standard. New route action plans will be developed for the A76 between Dumfries and Kilmarnock and the A830 west of Lochailort. Further improvements to the A9 north of Perth will be carried out, including the provision of improved overtaking opportunities, also as part of a route action plan.