Following representations made on behalf of constituents by Kenneth Gibson MSP, Transport Scotland’s operating company, Scotland TranServ, has advised that safety improvements on the A737 at Beith will be considered for construction in financial year 2018/19.
While speed surveys are still to be completed before the safety report is finalised, several recommendations have emerged including:
upgrading of the existing gateway features to the 30mph speed limit
improvements to speed limit signage to improve visibility
improvements to the advance direction signage
foliage clearance to improve visibility to the junction and to traffic signs
removal of two informal lay-bys
According to the most recent figures published by Transport Scotland, six slight injuries, four serious injuries, and one fatal accident have occurred on this stretch of the bypass over the past three years.
Kenneth Gibson commented:
“It is hoped that the above measures, combined with a working partnership with Police Scotland, will help reduce speeds on the road and prevent future accidents. This robust, evidence-based approach ensures that available funding is targeted to improvements which will have the greatest positive impact.
“Road safety is of paramount importance to the SNP Government and the safety performance of Scotland’s trunk road network is assessed annually. Figures for Scotland in 2007 show that the number of people killed or seriously injured was 45% below the level of the mid 1990s, however, every death and every injury on the roads is one too many.”
To read Scotland’s Road Safety Framework to 2020, please click here.
ENDS
