IMPROVEMENTS TO a notorious junction on the A90 in Angus look set to act as a blueprint for greener roadworks at sites across the country.

Local MSP John Swinney did the honours yesterday when he officially reopened the junction following work to install more than £750,000 of safety improvements—including a slip-road, resurfacing and a footway.

Astonishingly almost all of the materials used in the construction of the embankment and foundations for the road, the footway and the central reservation were recycled.

Mr Swinney believes the junction can act as a template for green construction projects elsewhere.

He said, “The Finavon project will bring significant safety improvements and improve connectivity for communities across the region.

“The new deceleration lane, a new pedestrian scheme and resurfacing along a 400-metre stretch will be welcomed by those who have driven on this stretch of road.

“However, this is only part of our investment on the A90 with an additional £4.2 million in the pipeline for further improvements.

“I was delighted to also see that recycled materials were used in the construction of this junction—a practice which we will look to replicate on similar projects across the country.”

He added, “The Scottish Government is committed to improving road safety across Scotland and the continued investment in the A90 will demonstrate real benefits for users.”

The changes to the junction come in the wake of a number of serious accidents at the junction in recent years, including a double fatal crash in 1999 that claimed the lives of local councillor and safety campaigner Anne Thomson and a van driver.

Kirriemuir Landward East community council chairman Ivan Laird is delighted that the junction has finally been upgraded and has singled out John Swinney and the builders for special praise in finally getting the long gestating project off the ground.

“The project has taken 10 years of hard effort to get to this point and it has had various start dates in between,” he said.

“But a meeting of John Swinney, Transport Scotland, BEAR and the police last year promised to do something—and now it has finally come to fruition.

“It is now a much safer junction for anyone turning off towards Tannadice, the glens and beyond.

“As a community we are very grateful for those who helped to prioritise this work and for all the people who worked on it.”