Question reference: S6W-08118
- Asked by: Liam Kerr, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
- Date lodged: 21 April 2022
-
Current status: Answered by Jenny Gilruth on 10 May 2022
Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-02823 by Kate Forbes on 24 September 2021, how much of the £24 million for a new grade separated junction at the Laurencekirk A90/A937 south junction has been spent; whether this represents the entire budget for upgrading the junction; whether it projects that it will exceed this budget; whether "delivery of the scheme itself" has now commenced, and when it anticipates the completion of the junction.
Answer
I can confirm that the Scottish Government has spent £2.95m to date on essential design and preparation work on the proposed £24m grade separated junction at Laurencekirk. As confirmed in answer to question S5W-25043 on
20 September 2019, the scheme is part of a package of additional investment alongside, but separate to, the Aberdeen City Region Deal, as such it is being taken forward under the Scottish Government’s Motorways and Trunk Roads Capital Land and Works budget. The cost estimate will continue to be updated as the scheme design develops and progresses through the statutory procedures.
Further to the answer to question S6W-02821 on 23 September 2021, Transport Scotland continues to work with objectors, including Aberdeenshire Council, to resolve concerns where possible, however, should Transport Scotland be unsuccessful in removing all objections a public local inquiry may be required as part of the necessary statutory procedures. As with all trunk road projects this is the appropriate forum for considering objections received and not withdrawn.
Delivery of the scheme itself can only commence if it is approved under the relevant statutory procedures, at which point a timetable for its progress can be set.
All answers to written Parliamentary Questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at https://www.parliament.scot/chamber-and-committees/written-questions-and-answers