A77 at Dutch House could return to 70mph in the New Year
Transport Scotland has published draft Road Orders today to revoke the 50mph speed limit on the A77 between Bogend Toll and Dutch House Roundabout.
The limit on this section of the A77 had previously been reduced from the national speed limit as an interim measure while a £10.6m programme of engineering improvements were completed.
These improvements included two new flyover junctions and, following an evaluation of the safety performance, it was considered appropriate that the national speed limit could be reinstated.
While the available information supports the return to the national speed limit, the current average speed cameras are now ten years old and need to be replaced to maintain road safety performance across the whole route.
The numbers of people killed or seriously injured along the part of the A77 covered by the ASC system have fallen since 2005, with the latest figures indicating a reduction of over 57% in those killed and seriously injured when compared with the original baseline
Transport Scotland intend to maintain the safety initiative by replacing the ten year old camera system with the latest available technology.
The 50mph restriction has been in place since 2008.
Derek Mackay, Minister for Transport and Islands said:
“Safety is a key priority across all our roads, and we have invested £10.6m on engineering works to improve road safety on the A77 between Bogend Toll and Dutch House Roundabout.
“With the construction of two flyover junctions now completed, removing the need for right hand turns, it is appropriate to return this section of the route to the national speed limit.
“Following the return to the national speed limit, officials will closely monitor driver behaviour and, based on performance, consider the removal of the safety cameras north of Dutch House Roundabout. “
“As with all safety camera enforcement, the A77 average speed camera system is focussed on delivering improvements in driver behaviour and reducing the number of people being killed or seriously injured.
Since the cameras were installed in 2005, there have been substantial reductions in the numbers of casualties and collisions on the A77, and excellent levels of speed limit compliance have also been observed over the past ten years. South of Dutch House Roundabout this essential maintenance will see benefits from the cameras retained for years to come.”