GREEN LIGHT FOR INVERAMSAY BRIDGE

SNP DELIVERS YET AGAIN FOR THE NORTH EAST

Gordon MSP, Alex Salmond, has today (Thursday) welcomed the announcement by Transport Minister, Keith Brown, that tenders for design works to upgrade the Inveramsay Bridge have been given the go-ahead.

The necessary preparatory work will identify the preferred design solutions for the complex task of removing the notorious traffic bottleneck on the A96.

This follows last month’s announcement by the Scottish Government that improvements to ensure a dual carriageway on the A90 between Balmedie and Tipperty are to proceed.

Mr Salmond said:

“I welcome today’s announcement which is a key step towards tackling one of the north east’s most notorious bottlenecks. This is remarkable progress considering that Inveramsay had never before been mentioned on a transport program before the SNP entered office in 2007. Now the green light has been given, I will be writing to the Transport Minister, pressing for a timetable which will see completion of the project within the term of the next parliament.

“After years of inaction from previous administrations, it is only because there is now an SNP government that there is a commitment to deliver much-needed improvements to the north east road network. Thanks to the Scottish Government, motorists in Gordon can look forward to a full dual carriageway between Aberdeen and Ellon and a new Inveramsay Bridge on the A96.

“The A96 is a key strategic link road to Aberdeen. Everyone knows the critical nature of the capital spending cutbacks of nearly 40% being imposed by the coalition government, and to still make progress on a new Inveramsay Bridge is great news for the north east of Scotland.”