The public has had its first look at plans for a flyover that will transform a deadly junction on one of the north-east’s busiest roads.
Campaigners have been calling for action to be taken at the Laurencekirk junction on the A90 Aberdeen to Dundee road for more than a decade, in the wake of a number of deaths.
Currently traffic coming from the A937 Laurencekirk to Montrose road – often farm and heavy goods vehicles – is forced to cross the busy road in either direction.
Now transport chiefs have unveiled their preferred option for the £24 million flyover, which it is hoped would be ready by 2021.
The A937 will now be re-aligned and elevated over the main road with a roundabout on either side for traffic travelling north and south.
Jill Fotheringham, who has been campaigning for a flyover at the junction for 14 years, said she was “over the moon” to see her favoured option selected.
She said: “The option they’ve gone for leaves the north carriage open and that protects the high street in Laurencekirk, which is so important.
“It takes care of the Montrose junction and makes it safer, which is the most important thing.
“The government committed to this in 2014 so we have known it was coming, but because of delays some people thought we wouldn’t be getting it.
“To actually see the artist impression made it real and it hit home that we are getting this.”
The plans were unveiled yesterday at the Dickson Memorial Hall with locals invited to come along and take a look.
Representatives from Transport Scotland were also present.
One of those in attendance was Bill Taylor, a retired teacher, who has lived in the town for almost 30 years.
He said: “I’m delighted that something is actually happening. We moved here in 1993 and the junction was an issue then.
“If my calendar is correct it’s now 2018 and we’re now getting to see plans for a working scheme.
“This junction would seem to make the most sense.”
The current proposal has been picked as transport bosses claim it would have the least disruption on the surrounding residents and the environment.
However Transport Scotland will still require to make compulsory purchase orders of land in order to bring the project to fruition.
The next stage will involve consultation and an environmental impact study.
Funding for the new junction came from a £254m investment from the Scottish Government which was announced at the same time as the UK Government’s £250 million City Region Deal was signed in 2016.
