By Paul Reoch

A £15 MILLION upgrade to an accident black spot on the notorious A9 should make a “significant contribution” to improving road safety, it was claimed yesterday.

John Swinney, MSP for North Tayside and cabinet secretary for finance and sustainable growth, officially opened the new fly-over at Ballinluig, which has witnessed three fatal accidents and 11 accidents since 1997.

One of the worst of these occurred in 2001, when four members of an Israeli family died after a collision.

The new upgrade means motorists can pass over the A9 from the A827 or leave the dual carriageway for the Aberfeldy road without the need for right-hand turns in the face of oncoming traffic.

It will also mean access will be improved due to 600 metres of new dual carriageway around the junction, which has been subject to speed restrictions and traffic calming since the beginning of the upgrade.

The project was first mooted in 2002, but after various delays work finally commenced in July last year.

Mr Swinney, who has been a long-term advocate of dualling the A9 between Perth and Inverness, told The Courier, “The Ballinluig community have been waiting a long time for this junction and it is great to see it completed.

“Anyone who has ever driven the road will know how vital this new fly-over is.

“This £15 million investment will make a significant contribution to improving road safety on the A9, whilst easing traffic flow for local communities and visitors alike.

“The A9 is a key artery for Scotland’s transport network and the Scottish Government is absolutely committed to making further improvements.

“We have already taken action to improve the sections of the A9 at Helmsdale, Luncarty and Birnam and have asked Transport Scotland to identify further options for improvements. Meanwhile, we are absolutely committed to plan for dualling the A9.”

Murdo Fraser, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, added, “It’s an excellent day for Perthshire and road users of the A9 with the opening of the new and improved Ballinluig junction.

“The improvements that have been made to the junction have vastly improved it and I am sure we will see fewer accidents at this once dangerous junction.

“I must thank the local community and campaigners for their hard work and continued pressure for a number of years to see these improvements. Their dedication to see major improvements for the Ballinluig junction has made today’s official opening a reality.

“The local community and road users of the A9 have waited patiently for these improvements and have also waited patiently during construction of the upgrade which caused disruption for drivers using the A9.”

He added, “As we know, the Ballinluig junction upgrade has seen a number of delays and false starts, with the first promise of major improvements to the junction being made by the then Labour/Liberal Democrat Scottish Executive in spring, 2002.

“We have been waiting a long time to get to this point but it is good to see the improvements to this junction. This is not the end and there are other junctions along the A9 that must see major improvements and I will continue to put pressure on the Scottish Government until they are carried out and road safety is improved on this road.”

Pete Wishart, MP for Perth and North Perthshire, underlined the importance of the upgrade in terms of road safety.

“One of the first duties when I was elected an MP was to chair the meeting in the Mid Atholl and Grandtully Hall in Ballinluig, following the tragic death of four Israeli tourists at this junction,” he said.

“Therefore, the opening of this new junction is fantastic news for the people of Perth and North Perthshire and every single driver and passenger who uses the A9. This part of the A9 has long been a notorious accident black spot and any moves that deliver significant safety benefits are to be welcomed.

“The safety and efficiency of the A9 is so vital for our constituency’s success and its role in tourism, business, agriculture and connecting communities is unparalleled. I am delighted that this investment was secured by the Scottish Government for the people of Perth and North Perthshire.”

Contractor Balfour Beatty was responsible for the project, which included construction of a full grade-separated (fly-over) junction, two slip roads connecting the A9 to the A827 to Aberfeldy, a roundabout on the A827, improved drainage and two bridges across the Perth to Inverness railway line, together with pedestrian routes and cycle-ways.

The Perth to Inverness section of the A9 carries 12,000 vehicles a day with a mixture of strategic, local, agricultural, freight and tourist traffic.