Fife Council is to investigate the economic benefits that major improvements to the A92 such as dualling could bring to Fife.
The pledge has been given by newly appointed Fife Council leader councillor David Ross in a bid to put further pressure on the Scottish Government.
A major summit to discuss safety concerns about the A92 through Glenrothes and onwards to the Tay Bridge, and what can be done to improve the trunk road, has been held.
Organised and chaired by the Glenrothes Area Futures Group (GAFG), the meeting was attended by Glenrothes and Central Fife MP Lindsay Roy, Mid Scotland and Fife MSP Claire Baker, councillors, representatives from Police Scotland, Transport Scotland and BEAR Scotland.
Local MSP Tricia Marwick was unable to attend due to a prior engagement in her role as Presiding Officer of the Scottish Parliament but was represented at the meeting.
Various minor improvements such as improved signage at several locations, including the Balfarg/Star and Cadham junctions were revealed, though Mr Roy made it clear he and Mrs Marwick are in favour of ending any right turns at the former. The Scottish Government has no plans to revisit the Strategic Transport Projects Review, which has ruled out any major improvements on the road until at least 2028, and discussions centred on how best to put pressure on ministers to look again at the review’s priorities.
Political pressure will be maintained and GAFG is seeking a meeting with all Fife MSPs and transport minister Keith Brown in the near future.
GAFG chairman Ron Page told The Courier: “It was disappointing the transport minister, Keith Brown, was not there in person but I will be seeking a meeting with him.
“Our long-term ambition would be to see the road dualled between Glenrothes and the Tay Bridge.
“In the shorter term, we would like to see dualling of the 1.5 miles between Balfarg and Preston junctions. There have been a lot of accidents or near-accidents here. It’s a real pressure point.
“We’ve also agreed to resuscitate the A92 Safety Committee, which involves all the community councils bordering the A92 north of Glenrothes. The vision for the A92 should have been accomplished when it was dualled south to the Forth Road Bridge, but that’s history now.”
Lindsay Roy said the summit was prompted by a meeting at the House of Commons between himself, Sir Menzies Campbell and a GAFG representative.
“GAFG subsequently arranged the meeting and it is to their credit that within a very short period of time, they gathered all the key players to discuss again how the A92 can be improved in the short, medium and long-term,” he said.
“It was a very useful meeting and we plan to hold another summit after GAFG meets with the MSPs and Keith Brown.
“I will continue to do everything in my power to make this road safer for people in my constituency and elsewhere.”
Tricia Marwick added: “There continues to be major safety concerns on the A92 through Glenrothes and north Fife and it is imperative that the pressure for improvements is maintained.”