That the Parliament notes with concern the reported ongoing delay to progress towards a new grade separated junction on the A720 Edinburgh City Bypass at Sherrifhall; understands that a public local inquiry was carried out in early 2023, with results reviewed by an independent reporter and delivered to the Scottish Government in early 2024; further understands that the report has been under active consideration by the Scottish Ministers for over a year; believes that motorists using the Edinburgh City Bypass have been subjected to hours of unnecessary congestion due to delays in delivering the A720 Sherrifhall roundabout, since funding was committed in 2018 as part of the Edinburgh and South East Scotland City Region Deal; notes the calls for the Scottish Ministers to prioritise what it sees as this crucial infrastructure project, which, it understands, motorists in the south east of Scotland have been waiting seven years for; understands that the upgrade was originally priced at £120 million; notes the calls on ministers to urgently update the Parliament on the full details of any additional costs for the development of the junction due to the length of time that it has taken to progress it, and further notes the view that it is strategically important to make the improvements on the A720 Edinburgh City Bypass at Sherrifhall, to help deliver improvements to infrastructure that will support local and national economic growth.
Supported by:
Jeremy Balfour, Foysol Choudhury, Murdo Fraser, Meghan Gallacher, Dr Pam Gosal MBE, Dr Sandesh Gulhane, Liam Kerr, Douglas Ross, Alexander Stewart, Paul Sweeney, Annie Wells