Miles Briggs, Scottish Conservative & Unionist MSP for Lothian, is asking the Scottish Government to set out its plans for upgrading the A720 City Bypass. Miles has tabled Parliamentary questions after contact from constituents and businesses in Lothian concerned that the City Bypass is struggling to cope with current capacity and worried that plans are not being advanced to prepare the route for the increased traffic volumes caused by population growth in the region.
Speaking today Miles Briggs said:
“Transport Scotland acknowledged that there were immediate capacity problems on the City Bypass 8 years ago but comprehensive plans to address these issues have simply not been taken forward by the Scottish Government.
“Constituents are frustrated at being stuck in queues of traffic on the Bypass at peak times. With the number of new homes planned for this area in the years ahead and the associated population growth and increase in vehicles, the Scottish Government needs to take decisive action, including looking at the option of upgrading the hard shoulder on sections of the road to be used as a third lane during peak times.
“Another priority must be accelerating the plans which are in place to upgrade the Sheriffhall roundabout and improve that particular bottleneck.
“Increased capacity on the City Bypass is vital for both residents and for the area’s economic development.”
