3 – TARGETED PROGRAMME OF MEASURES TO IMPROVE ROAD STANDARDS BETWEEN GLASGOW AND OBAN/FORT WILLIAM (A82)

Intervention description

A.16 This intervention supports the objectives to provide a significant improvement in road standard along the A82 and to reduce the accident severity rates on the route. In addition to a general upgrade of the route the intervention would include measures such as:

Carriageway widening at selected locations between Tarbet and Inverarnan;
Carriageway widening at selected locations between Corran Ferry and Fort William; and
Physical works such as climbing lanes at Loch Tulla, overtaking lay-bys aimed at providing safer overtaking opportunities and improving journey time reliability and safety targeted measures such as hard strips, junction improvements and local realignment.

A.17 It is envisaged that individual elements would be delivered in a targeted programme to address identified accident clusters and points where the routes have significant constraints on achieving consistent journey times.

A.18 In addition, speed enforcement cameras would be considered at appropriate locations.

Contribution towards the Scottish Government’s Purpose

A.19 The introduction of physical works to provide safer overtaking opportunities, in conjunction with speed enforcement measures, is expected to improve road safety along the route, and reduce both the accident and fatal accident rates closer to the national levels.

A.20 This is a key route for tourism and as such has a high proportion of infrequent users; the provision of a consistently high standard of carriageway would be of particular significance to the improvement of road safety.

A.21 The combination of these measures on the A82 and other key routes on the corridor would contribute significantly towards the established objectives and significantly improving the accessibility of Argyll and the North West.

STPR Objectives

Links to Other Strategies

A.22 This intervention includes a range of safety-related and asset management interventions, as addressed in the Strategic Road Safety Plan and the Road Asset Management Plan.

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Current Status of Project

A.23 A Scottish Transport Appraisal Guidance (STAG) appraisal process has already been carried out on the Route Action Plan for the A82³², and the elements of the Plans agreed. The Route Action Plan forms the basis for this intervention, which has seen Scottish Government commitments to deliver the Crianlarich Bypass and Pulpit Rock improvements. It is expected that this intervention would be welcomed by regular road users in this area as there has been a degree of public interest in improvements on the A82 for some time.

Indicative Costs

A.24 The total estimated cost of full implementation of this scheme is in the range £100-£250 million.

Deliverability

A.25 The Route Action Plan has already been developed to a high level of readiness, and can be implemented within the short term. Due to the rural nature of much of the corridor, design work would have to take account of the local terrain. This is particularly important as tourism plays a key role in travel on this corridor.

A.26 The environmental impacts this intervention has on designated sites, valued habitats, protected species and water quality have been identified at the strategic level as part of the Strategic Environmental Assessment and Appropriate Assessment. Appropriate mitigation and avoidance measures have been identified and will be further refined should this intervention be taken forward.