Further to the answer to question S6O-02023 by Jenny Gilruth on 16 March 2023, in light of the minister’s comments that, although dualling …

Transport Scotland undertakes an annual assessment of the safety performance of the entire trunk road network, including the A90. Further investigations are then carried out and, where appropriate, mitigation measures are prioritised for delivery.Whilst the Toll of Birness junction was not, itself, identified for further investigation through the 2023 annual assessment, it was agreed, following a request from the Council, to include the A90 Toll of Birness junction within an investigation being undertaken by Transport Scotland’s Operating Company for the North East, Amey.The report is currently in draft and will be finalised in April/May 2025.Two interactive road signs were erected in 2017 with a third interactive sign to supplement the northbound signs erected in 2021. These signs alert drivers to vehicles turning at the junction and encourage drivers to drive within the speed limit. Other work involved an additional northbound advance direction sign.The A90 at its junction with the A952 will be programmed for resurfacing improvements in August 2025 which will see improvements to surface texture, white lining and road studs within the scheme extents.Transport Scotland through their role as statutory consultee in the planning process continue to engage constructively around developments allocated in Aberdeenshire Council’s 2017 Local Development Plan, and the necessary mitigation measures required to offset any potential traffic impacts on the trunk road network.The council’s Plan allocated approximately 1,200 houses within Mintlawas well as a number of smaller allocations. The Plan also allocates land for over 1,400 houses plus extensive employment in Peterhead, with a further 1,000 houses allocated in Fraserburgh, again with areas of employment land. All of these planned developments have the potential to impact on the operation of the A90(T) and A952 corridors and significantly affect the performance of the Toll of Birness junction.At this time, through existing planning consents, Aberdeenshire Council has effectively imposed an infrastructure capacity of 200 houses across the allocated sites within Mintlaw until such a time as the Toll of Birness Junction has been upgraded.Transport Scotland has been clear and consistent in its engagement with all parties, in that Aberdeenshire Council and/or developers will be required to fund and deliver improvements to the Toll of Birness Junction as a result of development.You may be also be aware that Nestrans, the statutory Regional Transport Partnership (RTP) for North East Scotland, has engaged Stantec to undertake an appraisal of the A90(N) / A952 Road Corridor. This study includes identifying issues and opportunities within the transport infrastructure system and evaluating potential short to medium term road improvements on the A90 north of Ellon. The findings of this review are currently under consideration.