North business leaders have called on the Scottish Government to prioritise improvements to a notorious A9 hairpin.
Caithness Chamber of Commerce and the region’s transport forum have accused Transport Scotland of digging their heels in over plans to improve Berriedale Braes.
The A9 drops from 492ft to just 65ft as it enters a steep-sided valley at Berriedale, meaning drivers have to contend with 13% gradients and a tight hairpin bend at the bottom of the slope.
The area has been the scene of a number of serious accidents over the years.
Transport Scotland revealed their preferred option last year, which involves widening the road to reduce the angle of the hairpin.
Chamber chief executive Trudy Morris said: “While progress has been made in identifying a solution to this important issue, we are disappointed that the Scottish Government is dragging its heels in moving towards a practical implementation of this. The project as it stands is effectively shovel-ready – all that remains is for Scottish Government to commit the funding. We are now concerned this project will just sit on the shelf at a cost of £220,000 to the taxpayer.
“We have been told that a firm commitment cannot be given that construction of Berriedale will be included in the next programme of works in 2016, because this will depend on the budget that is made available from Westminster and other competing infrastructure priorities – a position we find hard to reconcile with recent revelations of a significant underspend in the infrastructure budget for 2014-15.”
“We now are urging the Scottish Government to commit to a funding package for the Berriedale Braes in advance of the Autumn 2015 Spending Review as this issue has gone unaddressed for too long.”
Liz Cameron, chief executive, Scottish Chambers of Commerce said: “To continue to grow its economy and attract visitors and investment, Scotland requires a transport infrastructure fit for the 21st century – the Berriedale Braes falls a long way short of this. Alongside the similarly fragile and urgently in need of investment A82, this area should be the top priority for the Scottish Government’s transport budget.
A Transport Scotland spokesman said: “We are continuing to progress the design work for the Berriedale Braes improvement scheme following the publication of draft orders last year.
“We are currently working to resolve objections to the scheme and subject to completion of the statutory process we will look to publish made orders later this year.”