The Scottish Government has finally bowed to 11 years of pressure and agreed to take forward plans to build a flyover at a notorious north-east road junction.
The decision was made after transport partnership Nestrans formally recommended that a grade-separated junction should be put in place over the A90 Aberdeen to Dundee road near Laurencekirk.
It is a major victory for Montrose woman Jill Fotheringham who has been relentlessly campaigning for a flyover at the junction of the A90 and the A937 Laurencekirk-Montrose road since 2004.
The florist said she was overwhelmed and burst into tears when Nestrans published its decision which has been fully endorsed by Transport Minister Derek Mackay.
Hundreds of delighted local people have congratulated Ms Fotheringham on her social media campaign page for refusing to give up the quest she launched after selling flowers to a family whose relative died in a crash near the junction.
Some believe the structure should be named after her.
Ms Fotheringham said: “I think I am still in shock, I have cried and been an emotional wreck since I was told – I am overwhelmed.
“I think I have been so used to being given negative news over the last 11 years so to be finally told that the junction does need upgraded came as quite a shock.
“Now the news is sinking in I am absolutely delighted that it is finally going to happen.
“My only hope now is that the day we can cross the A90 safely at Laurencekirk is not too far off.”
Nestrans said a flyover would improve traffic movement, reduce delay and satisfy the road safety concerns of local businesses and residents.
The £100,000 study funded by Transport Scotland also identified opportunities to improve safety at nearby junctions through closures or access restrictions.
It is not yet clear when the flyover would be built or how much it would cost but the roads agency has previously pegged it between £13.5million and £17.1million.
Nestrans chairman Ramsay Milne, an Aberdeen councillor, said: “I look forward to the discussion on how the outcomes of the report can be progressed.”
The Scottish Government is keen for developers to make a contribution to the costs.
Mr Mackay said: “We will now work with our partners to progress this work further including discussions around funding.”