Transport Minister Derek Mackay has been urged to rethink plans for a package of safety measures at an A9 accident blackspot.
A £100,000 plan for Gleneagles Station, including electronic warning signs and wider pavements, was unveiled by Transport Scotland this week.
But the scheme was fiercely criticised by road safety campaigners who had fought for a permanent footbridge at the site. They called for a temporary crossing that was put in place for the Ryder Cup to be retained.
Auchterarder man Ronnie Johnston who launched a petition for a new bridge that attracted nearly 4,000 signatures said the new plan was a “colossal waste of money”.
Mid-Scotland and Fife MSP Liz Smith has urged Mr Mackay to visit the area and review the need for a safer crossing.
She said: “It is clear that the many pedestrians and cyclists who cross the A9 at Gleneagles are hugely disappointed at the assessment and proposals put forward by Transport Scotland.
“The temporary footbridge which was put in place during the Ryder Cup proved a great success and the feeling among local residents I have spoken to is that Transport Scotland seem to have proposed the cheapest option and that the proposals will do very little to make it safer for pedestrians crossing the A9 at Gleneagles Station.”
She added: “I have written to Transport Minister Derek Mackay asking him to visit the site to meet with local campaigners and to review the recommendations by Transport Scotland, as we cannot afford this missed opportunity to deliver a safer crossing.”
A Transport Scotland spokeswoman said: “A thorough assessment of a range of options to improve access for pedestrians and cyclists crossing the A9 at Gleneagles Station has been carried out and the evidence suggests that the measures we are putting in place will be effective.
“We appreciate that the temporary footbridge used for the Ryder Cup was welcomed by the community but it did not meet the accessibility requirements of a permanent structure.”
The investment will include “smart” warning signs, which activate when pedestrians are crossing, and upgrades to pavements on the north side of the route. The existing crossing point will also be sealed off, which will see the footway widened between Western Road and Station Road.
Campaigners said action is needed to curb the area’s alarmingly high accident toll, which included two recent fatal crashes. Around £7.4 million was spent upgrading Gleneagles Station in time for September’s Ryder Cup.
According to some estimates, a new bridge would cost about £2m.