Public consultation launched on plans to improve safety at Toll of Birness junction
Aberdeenshire Council, working in partnership with Nestrans, has launched a public consultation seeking views on proposals to improve safety at the busy Toll of Birness junction on the A90 north of Ellon.
The consultation will focus on preliminary design options for a potential roundabout at the key A90/A952 junction, aimed at improving both the operation of the junction and traffic flow for thousands of motorists who use the route every day.
It’s the culmination of several years of collaborative work between Aberdeenshire Council, Nestrans and Transport Scotland to identify a suitable long-term solution for the junction.
Funded through the Aberdeen City Region Deal, the latest work builds on recent Nestrans transport appraisals and detailed studies of the A90 and A952 corridors.
Potential improvements were assessed using the Scottish Transport Appraisal Guidance (STAG), ensuring options are rigorously evaluated against safety, sustainability and economic criteria. The project forms part of a wider effort to enhance safety and future-proof one of the north-east’s most important trunk road links.
Residents, businesses and road users are now being invited to have their say through an online survey running now until September 18 at https://engage.aberdeenshire.gov.uk/toll-of-birness
The findings from the consultation exercise will be shared with Transport Scotland which is responsible for the trunk road network and will help refine the preferred option and ensure community priorities are reflected as the project progresses.
In addition, a public drop-in exhibition will take place at Hatton Public Hall on Wednesday, September 2 from 2pm to 7pm, where attendees can view the proposed designs, speak directly to project representatives and provide feedback.
The exhibition will also include information on appraisal work for the Cortes junction on the A952 south of Fraserburgh.
First and foremost, the overriding objective at Toll of Birness is to improve safety for all road users by reducing the likelihood of collisions at a busy junction, while enabling safer movements for motorists, freight operators and public transport.
However, beyond the safety benefits, improved traffic flow and reduced congestion will strengthen connectivity to Peterhead and Fraserburgh, two of Scotland's most important port towns, supporting the efficient movement of goods, services and people.
By improving connectivity along one of the region's most important transport routes, the roundabout would help create the conditions for sustainable economic growth, support existing employers, attract future investment and ensure that the north-east's coastal communities remain competitive and well connected for decades to come.
Councillor Alan Turner, chair of Aberdeenshire Council’s Infrastructure Services Committee and vice-chair of Nestrans, said: “Toll of Birness is a busy junction on a key route and it is vital that we continue to look at how we can improve safety for all road users. Incidents around this location have at times been serious and this reinforces why we are bringing forward these proposals. These designs are the result of several years of partnership working between Aberdeenshire Council, Nestrans and Transport Scotland to identify the most appropriate solution for the junction.
"Aberdeenshire Council and Nestrans are clear that we must also try to future-proof the Toll of Birness for planned growth, including new housing and major commercial developments which are key to supporting our local economy.”
Chair of the Aberdeen City Region Deal and co-leader of Aberdeenshire Council, Cllr Anne Stirling, added: “This important project has been supported through the Aberdeen City Region Deal, which is helping us develop robust designs and business cases for strategic transport improvements. Building on many years of technical assessment and joint working with our transport partners, we are now at an important stage where local communities and road users can help shape the preferred option.
"It is essential that we develop the strongest possible case with clear designs and costings so that we are well placed when national funding opportunities arise to progress to scheme delivery. I would encourage everyone with an interest in this vital route to get involved in the consultation, either online or at the public event.”
More details on the project can be found at: https://a90-a952-junctions.poweredby.arcadis.com/overview.html
