A £3 million programme of work to improve a notorious stretch of road could be completed as early as next summer, it has been announced.
Angus Council infrastructure services committee members David Fairweather and Mark Salmond were at the section of the A92 between Arbroath and Montrose known as Big Tree Bend for a site visit.
Roads engineer Jack West was on hand to explain how work in the area was progressing and show the councillors where the new carriageway layout will run.
The purchase of several pieces of land is still required for the stretch of the road to be realigned, but that is now nearing completion and a contract for the construction works is due to be awarded next month.
Roads spokesman Mr Fairweather welcomed the progress and said he was “delighted” to see the project gaining momentum after so many deaths at the spot.
He said, “It’s a significant investment that will be welcomed by motorists as it will really improve this stretch of the A92.
“Nine companies have been invited to tender for the construction work and those tenders are due back in on August 11.Autumn start”Work should then be able to start in the autumn and be completed by next summer.”
The bends, known individually as Hawkhill and Courthill, have been the scene for a number of tragedies over the years, with three people killed there in the past three years.
At least four others have been badly hurt in that time and the council hopes that in rerouting the road to the north and west of the bends it will finally bring an end to that carnage.
Mr Salmond, the finance and property spokesperson, said that motorists had been calling for action to have the road upgraded for a long time and welcomed the fact that work was finally moving forward.
He added, “Although the negotiations over the required land took a bit longer than we’d originally expected, it’s good to see the progress that’s now been made.
“The various property transactions are just being finalised so there should be no problems with work starting in the next couple of months.Welcome”I know, from the representations made to me and other elected members over the years, that the news that the project is about to start will be welcome news for those who regularly use this route.”
Two project reports will be considered by the executive sub-committees for infrastructure services and corporate services on Tuesday.
Under the plans the new 21/2-kilometre stretch of road would cut across fields near the Big Tree Bends and through Hawkhill Quarry, before rejoining the A92 to the west of Courthill.
It would bypass Hawkhill, Courthill and Courthill Cottages. Access to the houses would be made via the existing Hawkhill Quarry road, which will be connected to the new road during its construction.
In May last year Montrose community councillors hit out at the area’s would-be MPs, after election signs were set up at notorious accident blackspots including the stretch on the road to Arbroath.
Locals had raised concerns that drivers would be distracted on what is already a fast-paced and deceptive piece of road. During the severe weather at the start of this year, two drivers got into difficulty at Big Tree Bends on the same morning.
One of them overturned into a field while the other ploughed into a roadside pole. Both drivers walked away from their cars without any injuries after the incidents, however both the Citroen Xsara and Ford Focus involved were badly damaged.