Edinburgh roads: No go-ahead for Sheriffhall flyover until after election
Ministers still waiting for advice from officials two-and-a-half years after report
Transport Secretary Fiona Hyslop has said she is "disappointed and frustrated" that no decision on a long-awaited flyover will be made until after the Scottish Parliament elections in May.
Ministers are still awaiting advice from their officials nearly two-and-a-half years after the report of a public inquiry into the scheme at Sheriffhall, Edinburgh, was submitted to them.
During transport questions at Holyrood, Lothian Tory MSP Miles Briggs asked whether an announcement would be made before parliament was dissolved for the May elections.
Ms Hyslop said Transport Scotland officials had notified her that the decision-making advice to her as minister for the proposed scheme would not be provided ahead of dissolution.
She said: "I am both disappointed and frustrated at this, but have been assured that every effort is being made for the decision to be made as soon as possible as part of a fair and efficient process, ensuring the decision is robust and supported by the available evidence."
Mr Briggs said: "I think this is my fifth attempt at trying to get a decision before we hit this election period. I know from speaking to drivers across Lothian region who are spending hours of their time in traffic every month, that ther is growing frustration that we have not seen the work on this upgrade begin.
"We need to see this made a priority for the next government and parliament. And I hope the next government will be able to give the green light to what will be a vital upgrade."
Ms Hyslop replied: "I have made clear that I think this decision needs to be made, that it needs to be made robustly. There is a small team in Transport Scotland, the special projects team, dedicated to this, who have had no prior involvement with the project.
“They provide a co-ordinating role with the technical expertise, legal advisers support as required. The chartered engineer, who has had no previous involvement in this scheme, has been leading the team for about 18 months, so they are well advanced in this.
"I had antiipated that I would have been able to make a decision, but I have to have the advice presented to me. I think the officials are under no illusion that the new incoming government will be expected to have that presented to them to make an early decision."
Christine Grahame, SNP MSP for Midlothian South, Tweeddale and Lauderdale, said she was "deeply disappointed" at the lack of a decision, but asked for an update on her suggestion of a temporary third lane on the A7 approaching the Sheriffhall roundabout in a bid to ease traffic flow.
Ms Hyslop said Transport Scotland and Midlothian council had met in February to discuss the feasibility of widening the northbound approach. Midlothian had said they had no plans to widen the road.
"It was noted that any widening works would present engineering challenges as well as the need to engage with private landowners. Midlothian council also expressed concern that progressing with this work may ultimately prove not needed.
“So in the interim Midlothian council has agreed to undertake further temporary repairs to ensure the verge remains and Transport Scotland will liaise with BEAR Scotland regarding any necessary repairs."
Afterwards, Mr Briggs said it was almost 20 years since Sheriffhall had been raised as a problem, yet the SNP had made "made absolutely no progress".
He said: “It is unacceptable that we have seen such delays to this vital upgrade to our transport infrastructure at the same time as costs have soared with inflation and our local economy is losing millions of pounds to congestion on the city bypass.
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