Safety improvements earmarked for a notorious junction on Fife’s main trunk road will improve the lives of thousands of people, it has been claimed.
Work worth nearly £30,000 is due to start on the A92 at the B936 junction in Freuchie on Monday with the main aim of improving visibility for drivers at the busy crossroads.
The project, which is expected to take around six weeks to complete, will involve altering the height of an existing stone wall at the junction, improving the line of sight and safety for drivers joining the A92 from the B936 local road.
Councillor David MacDiarmid paid tribute to local householders Leana and Neil Thorpe, who have been instrumental in allowing the work to take place at their property.
He said: “The wall at Cromdale Cottage has been a hazard to road users for decades and with these improvements vehicles entering the A92 from the Freuchie Cross Keys junction will have clear sight of southbound traffic.
“I am convinced that road users who no longer use that junction for safety reasons will now feel confident using it again, as long as A92 traffic abides by the 40mph speed limit passing by Freuchie.
“Negotiating an acceptable outcome with the property owners, Leana and Neil Thorpe, and BEAR Scotland and Transport Scotland was always cordial but sometimes challenging. The effort will all have been worth it.”
Most of the work will take place next to the carriageway to limit the impact to road users, although temporary traffic signals will be in place on the A92 for the first four days of the project from Monday to Thursday March 29.
Following this, the A92 will reopen to both lanes of traffic for the vast majority of the project.
Local restrictions will be in place at various times for traffic looking to turn on to the A92 from the B936 and the Freuchie Mill Road.
Andy Thompson, BEAR Scotland’s North East representative, said: “Safety is a top priority for both BEAR Scotland and Transport Scotland and this scheme is part of our commitment to that.
“The visibility improvements planned in Freuchie will mean easier and safer access to the A92 from the B936 for road users.
“We’ve liaised with all relevant stakeholders and local residents to inform them of the traffic management and junction restrictions that will be in place during the project to help minimise any inconvenience.
“We’ve also arranged the project so that no traffic management will be on the A92 over the Easter weekend to further limit any impact to road users, and our teams will do all they can to complete the project as quickly and safely as possible.
“The project is being carried out during off-peak daytime hours to minimise the impact to motorists, however, we encourage road users to plan their journey in advance and allow some extra journey time.”
