Dumbarton Constituency MSP, Jackie Baillie, has made fresh calls for upgrades to the A82 to be included in Transport Scotland’s Strategic Transport Projects Review 2, the review which will decide the investment priorities for the next five years.

New figures show that the number of people who died in a road accident in Argyll and Bute doubled in 2018, despite the total number of crashes involving fatalities or serious injury across Scotland declining. In 2018, 8 people died in a road traffic accident in Argyll and Bute, compared to 4 in 2017. In addition, there was 156 accidents on Argyll and Bute Roads last year, a decrease of 10% on the previous year.

There is no doubt that the A82 is a hot spot for accidents and the MSP has been calling for the A82 to be upgraded to dual carriageway for as much of the road as possible. The mix of single and dual lanes on different parts of the road add to the danger. The A82 is one of the busiest tourist roads providing a gateway to the west coast and the highlands.

Jackie has once again written to Michael Mathieson, Cabinet Secretary for Transport, urging him to ensure that the A82 doesn’t wait any longer for vital investment to improve the road.

Jackie said:

“The A82 is simply an accident waiting to happen. It is heartbreaking that the number of fatalities resulting from road accidents in Argyll and Bute are increasing, and that the area now suffers from one of the highest number of fatalities in Scotland.

“Time and time again I have highlighted the problems on the A82 and just how dangerous it is for drivers, but as yet, the Scottish Government has yet to make a commitment to dual the road.

“I hope that the Scottish Government will ensure that the A82 is included as an investment priority during the next transport review period. We simply cannot wait for more people to lose their lives in accidents before action is taken.”