Midlothian’s Provost Peter Smaill and local MSP Jeremy Balfour have joined forces to call for an urgent review of the A68 which is currently undergoing significant repair work.
The Scottish Conservative and Unionist Councillor for Midlothian East and the Lothians MSP were on site at the scene of the recent substantial damage to see for themselves how the major trunk road had suffered in recent severe weather.
While both praise operators Bear Scotland for the work they are undertaking, they believe that this incident only enhances the calls to carry out an options appraisal into a more sustainable long-term upgrade.
Along with local landowners, they are calling on Transport Scotland to look at how the bend where the recent damage occurred can be upgraded due to it’s dangerous position and it’s frequency to flood.
Councillor Smaill and Mr Balfour have both written to SNP Transport Secretary Michael Matheson backing calls for him to visit the site for himself and outline plans for significant investment and upgrades to make this road fit for purpose.Commenting, Councillor Peter Smaill said: ““The A68 is a vitally important route for communities across Midlothian and the Borders and the recent severe damage is a hammer blow to the local economy.
“While I praise the work being undertaken currently by Bear Scotland to get the route re-opened as soon as possible, we need to see them understand fully on how this route can be made safe for motorists.
“We’ve known for years that locations on the A68 are unsafe, yet this to me seems this will be another patch-up repair job, which isn’t good enough.
“There is a need for an urgent re-think from transport bosses who should outline appraisal options with priority given to straightening and levelling up at the location where the damage occurred, in close consultation with the local communities.
"This route now carries more traffic than the A9 which is currently undergoing a full dualling, which reaffirms how important this route is.
“There has been a real momentum behind the A68 Action group and I hope that the SNP’s Transport Secretary can listen to these urgent calls to upgrade This trunk route.”
Adding his support, Jeremy Balfour MSP said: “Having seen the damage for myself, I do commend the work that is being undertaken in order to re-open the A68 as quickly as possible.
“However, it is clear that this repair work cannot be the end of work carried out on this trunk road which is long overdue needing the investment it deserves.
“I’ve written to SNP Transport Secretary Michael Matheson for that very reason, in order to ensure that he is fully aware of the importance of this route to communities across the Lothians.
“For too long we have seen incidents and flooding on the A68 but right now we have an opportunity to ensure that they can be a thing of the past for motorists and local residents.”