A Kinross-shire councillor has criticised the failure to commit money to upgrading the A977 in future budgets.
Independent councillor Mike Barnacle has long campaigned for safety measures on the notorious road, which runs from Kincardine to the M90.
Its route passes through four communities Blairingone, Powmill, Crook of Devon and Drum where residents fear the constant flow of traffic could have tragic consequences.
On Sunday, police confirmed a man had died in hospital following a crash at Blairingone last weekend.
Earlier this month Mr Barnacle called for £500,000 to be set aside from Perth and Kinross Council’s capital budget for improvements to the road but his move was rejected by the council.
He said: “I am dismayed that, as a result, there will be no provision for A977 mitigation measures before 2020.
“I have no way of addressing the concerns continually expressed to me from residents along this strategic route in relation to the increasing speed and volume of traffic, particularly HGVs using it.”
The row over the road began after it was de-trunked but remained an arterial route from central Scotland to Tayside and Fife.
High numbers of heavy goods vehicles, especially tankers from Grangemouth, use it and there have been several accidents in the past decade.
The most spectacular saw a lorry explode in a fireball at Drum in 2004, while another HGV toppled over and its driver was killed just over a year ago.
A petition containing thousands of residents’ signatures previously received a sympathetic hearing at the Scottish Parliament but progress on making improvements has ground to a halt.
Mr Barnacle said: “Apart from the £250,000 I managed to secure from Transport Minister Tavish Scott in the previous Labour/Liberal Government at Holyrood which was clearly not sufficient given the subsequent arguments over how best to use it Perth and Kinross Council have consistently refused to allocate any capital funding for this forgotten road, despite my repeated requests.
“The major measures envisaged in 2004 were effectively four large roundabouts and two can now probably be delivered through planning gain at Turfhills and Powmill.
“The amendment would have delivered progress on the two others sought at Blairingone and Drum and I used the opportunity in debate to remind members of our local plan reflecting the need.”
The same amendment, by the Independent group but delivered by Mr Barnacle, called for extra money from council reserves of over £4 million for A9 side road upgrades, work on Fergusson Gallery in Perth and on the core path network.