Our Vision for a Well-Adapted Trunk Road Network

Scotland’s Trunk Road Network (TRN) serves as critical ‘lifeline’ infrastructure, supporting strategic and local connectivity between towns, cities, and rural areas. It facilitates the movement of people, goods, and essential services across the country, and is especially critical in remote areas where alternative routes may be limited or non-existent.

Scotland’s TRN makes up just 6% of the total road network but carries 35% of all traffic and 60% of HGVs in an average year. Safeguarding this critical infrastructure is vital to keep Scotland moving and economically secure.

However, the impacts of climate change are increasingly threatening the reliability and resilience of this network. Flooding, landslips, scour, and storms are already placing pressure on the TRN and with global emissions continuing to rise, the latest climate projections published by the Met Office, indicate that extreme weather events will become more frequent and severe. These disruptions pose unique challenges for trunk road users – particularly those in rural or remote regions – where even a single road closure can result in isolation, economic hardship, and reduced access to vital services.

As the impacts of climate change become a key driver of disruption across the TRN, it is imperative to understand both current and future vulnerabilities. Transport Scotland’s Trunk Road Adaptation Plan (TRAP) provides a robust evidence base to assess where and how the network is affected. The TRAP sets out a blueprint for the development and implementation of targeted adaptation measures to safeguard infrastructure, protect communities, and ensure the continued delivery of essential transport services.

Transport Scotland’s commitment to climate adaptation

Transport Scotland is responsible for delivering the Scottish Government’s vision for transport and is a key player in the delivery of the climate adaptation plan for Scotland. We have a series of adaptation commitments, laid out across the following national strategies and plans:

• National Transport Strategy 2
• Strategic Transport Projects Review 2
• Scottish National Adaptation Plan 2024-2029 (SNAP3)

Transport Scotland’s Approach to Climate Change Adaptation and Resilience (ACCAR) provides the overarching framework for adaptation across our transport system and sets out strategic outcomes for Road, Rail, Aviation and Maritime transport networks.

The ACCAR sets out the following vision for: “A transport system which is well-adapted and prepared for current and future impacts of climate change, safe for all users, reliable for everyday journeys, and resilient to weather related disruption.”

As reaffirmed in SNAP3, the TRAP plays a central role in delivering Scotland’s climate adaptation vision by 2029, at which point it will be reviewed and updated in alignment with SNAP4. It is developed through the following guiding principles:

• Safe: Addressing road safety challenges, exacerbated by climate change, ensuring our roads are built to withstand more extreme events.
• Reliable: Maintaining a reliable road network is essential for effective management and to keep people and goods moving without delays
• Resilient: A focus on resilient infrastructure makes sure that our road network endures for years to come.

Approach to Climate Change Adaptation and Resilience

Transport Scotland’s ACCAR outlines the key climate risks affecting Scotland’s transport system and sets out our strategic outcomes for Road, Rail, Aviation and Maritime transport networks, whilst recognising our varying levels of influence.

The ACCAR sets out Transport Scotland’s current approach to adaptation and resilience in relation to climate change, highlighting the key messages and urgency scores for infrastructure risks, derived from the Climate Change Committee (CCC). Through delivery of the strategic and sub-outcomes we will address all 7 risks relating to transport under the Independent assessment of UK Climate Risk (CCRA3), which provides evidence to inform the UK Government’s UK Climate Change Risk Assessment 2022 (UKCCRA3).

Sub-Outcome 1.1 of the ACCAR commits to developing a Trunk Road Adaptation Plan.

Vulnerable Locations Operations Group

Established in 2021, the Transport Scotland Vulnerable Locations Operations Group (VLOG) serves as a dedicated mechanism for embedding climate adaptation within the operational and strategic frameworks of the Transport Scotland’s Roads Directorate.

Since its inception, the VLOG has identified strategic areas of adaptation focus, determined how available funds are best allocated to overcome adaptation risks to the TRN, and has facilitated collaboration between stakeholders and dissemination of information across internal and external partners, ensuring alignment with broader Transport Scotland policy objectives. The VLOG has delivered targeted adaptation initiatives to enhance resilience across the TRN, whilst actively seeking out and evaluating innovative approaches to improve its management and maintenance.

Looking forward, Transport Scotland, through the VLOG, will oversee the delivery of the actions set out in this plan, the majority of which will be undertaken by Transport Scotland in partnership with the Operating Companies. The VLOG forum members will monitor progress of activity, including the prioritisation of actions and the evaluation of their effectiveness.

The climate risk assessment within this plan identifies specific geographic areas most vulnerable to climate-related risks. To support the management of these high-risk areas, a Priority Database Matrix tool has been developed. This tool enables the prioritisation of activity to be undertaken to better support these vulnerable geographic locations. Delivering the TRAP actions through the VLOG will ensure climate resilience remains central to transport infrastructure policy and practice. Actions will be prioritised through a structured approach that considers climate risk as the primary factor - balanced against a multitude of other considerations, including feasibility, cost, and operational impact.

Stakeholder engagement in focus

The TRAP has been developed through close engagement with stakeholders, including through workshops and targeted interviews. These have helped ensure the TRAP is informed by diverse perspectives, and a solid evidence-base.

Delivery partners

Transport Scotland will lead the majority of actions within this adaptation plan, reflecting its primary responsibility for the Trunk Road Network. Delivery will be supported by Operating Companies to ensure coordinated implementation across the network. The success of this plan will also be dependent on our continued collaboration and partnerships with the Scottish Government, National Highways, the Department for Transport, Scottish Environment Protection Agency, the Met Office, Scottish Water, local authorities, and academic and research institutions to support evidence-based decision-making and coordinated action.