Traffic chaos in the wake of a two-day closure of the Queensferry Crossing has prompted renewed calls for a Rosyth bypass.
Local people claimed heavy traffic using the town as a diversion route earlier this month caused their houses to vibrate and affected air quality.
Residents said the severe congestion also made it difficult for them to get to and from their homes.
More than 100 people have signed a petition calling on the Scottish Government to bring forward plans for a dual carriageway between Pitreavie roundabout in Dunfermline, and the A985, bypassing Rosyth.
A spokesman for the community website What’s Happening Rosyth said a number of significant developments planned for west Fife would exacerbate peak time bottlenecks unless the roads network was improved.
These include the Talgo train factory in Kincardine, which is forecast to employ 1,000 people, plans for 2,100 homes at Broomhall and the possibility of the replacement Inverkeithing High School being built in the town.
He said a dual carriageway would also help reduce the high number of serious and fatal accidents on the A985, with five serious crashes last year alone.
“Having the linked Rosyth bypass to the upgraded A985 would help resolve major traffic issues,” said the spokesman.
“There’s a lot planned for the area in the coming years and we really need the infrastructure in place first. It’s common sense.”
The issue of a bypass was first raised more than 10 years ago when more HGVs were diverted from using the Forth Road Bridge.
It followed a strategic review of the road by the then Scottish Executive in 1999, which found high traffic flows through Rosyth had resulted in accidents and air quality and noise problems.
The review concluded a bypass would reduce journey times and the number of accidents, as well as bringing environmental benefits.
No decision was taken however, and the issue was put on the back burner for consideration in a future trunk road programme.
A spokesman for the Scottish Government’s transport agency, Transport Scotland, said any decisions on funding would be dependent on the outcome of a Strategic Transport Projects Review and the normal cycle of government spending reviews.
“In relation to any potential extra capacity linked to new homes and Talgo, this would be considered by developers as part of their own proposals and assessments,” he said.
He added that a Rosyth park and ride was also being developed.
“We understand and regret the difficulties caused by the recent closure of the Queensferry Crossing,” said the spokesman.
“Initial learning has resulted in a five-point plan being put in place to improve monitoring and gather more data.”
