A wish list of improvements to prevent deaths and injury on the A92 through North-East Fife has been set out ahead of a public meeting on Wednesday.
Howe of Fife and Tay Coast councillor David MacDiarmid said most people opposed dualling the busy trunk road on the main route between Edinburgh and Aberdeen but outlined a series of measures he believes would improve safety.
Among his proposals, sent to Fife Council’s head of transportation Dr Bob McLellan, are installation of roundabouts at the Freuchie and Kingskettle and Ladybank and Monksmoss junctions.
A series of laybys between Melville Lodges and Kilmany, he said, would reduce driver frustration.
Mr MacDiarmid’s suggestions for the stretch between the New Inn and Five Roads roundabouts also included creation of a pedestrian underpass at the Freuchie Mill junction and demolition of a wall at the Freuchie Cross Keys junction to improve visibility for motorists emerging on to the A92.
His wish list was drawn up following a meeting earlier this month, hosted by the Glenrothes Futures Group and attended by Transport Scotland, BEAR Scotland, Police Scotland, community councillors and Fife Council.
He said: “There is no appetite for dualling the A92 from the New Inn to the Tay Road Bridge. I have spoken with many constituents who use this stretch of road on a daily basis and they are just looking for improvements.
“Taking a dual carriageway through rural countryside is not going to work. Cars will just go faster than they do already and it won’t take away driver frustration.
“But if we don’t get these safety measures put in place, I’m afraid there are going to be a lot more deaths on this road.”
Mr MacDiarmid said he had recently reported a driver to police following a near-miss as he drove his wife to work. An overtaking car, he said, just missed an oncoming vehicle “by the skin of his teeth”.
Such incidents, he said, occurred on a daily basis.
However, he welcomed Transportation Scotland agreement to renew worn junction markings and red surface treatment at the Freuchie junctions, as other works are conducted on the A92.
Meanwhile, the agenda has been published for the public meeting that takes place at the Lomond Centre in Glenrothes at 7pm on Wednesday.
The chairman of Glenrothes Area Futures Group Bob Grant will introduce the meeting.
The convener of GAFG’s A92 group, Ron Page, will then provide background of the meeting and GAFG policy.
The leader of Fife Council’s Labour administration, Councillor David Ross, will then outline the Fife Council position on the A92 before Transport Scotland’s road safety manager Stephen Davies gives an overview on accident planning and the future.
Alan Campbell, manager of east of Scotland BEAR, will also speak, as will Bob Mclellan, head of transportation, with Fife Council, who will give an overview of the A92 trunk road.
Police Scotland and local community councils are then scheduled to speak.