Concern over continued delay for A90 flyover
“Real worries” have been raised with transport secretary Stephen Flynn over funding for a lifesaving A90 scheme after it was left off a Scottish development pipeline until after 2030.
The £24 million A90 flyover at Laurencekirk south junction was not included in the Scottish Government’s last Infrastructure Investment Plan for 2021-2026. It then appeared in a post-2030 ‘development pipeline’ following January’s budget.
Local MP Andrew Bowie urged Mr Flynn to outline where the project, announced as part of the Aberdeen City Region Deal in 2016, fits into government priorities.
Mr Flynn has responded that “my officials at Transport Scotland are actively progressing work to push forward with the necessary procedural and legislative steps to complete the statutory processes for the scheme as soon as possible”.
He said this step is necessary to “secure necessary funding and enable the scheme to progress”. The city deal ends in 2027.
The initial Infrastructure Delivery Pipeline for 2026-2030 “gives the construction sector and the public clarity on the major projects and programmes we will be investing in over the next four years”.
But the latter proposals, in which Laurencekirk appears, state “where business cases and value for money considerations do not stack up projects may be stood down”.
Scottish Conservative Mr Bowie says the city deal cash was for a solution Laurencekirk “waited years to see”.
He said: “As someone who represents a neighbouring constituency at Holyrood, I know Stephen Flynn will be better sighted of the need for the south junction flyover than any of his SNP colleagues.
“This was promised money in the 2016 city region deal and it has never transpired. It should be at the top of the pile, but it has been relegated to the second division in Scottish Government’s plans.
“This is a life-saving measure that should be uniting all parties here, but we’re still no further forward on 2016. Understandably there are real worries and I’m trying to progress those with the Scottish Government.
“Mr Flynn’s response is not credible for a community that was promised a solution they waited years to see, only to be told there may be no money.”