Back in March, we brought forward a motion to an influential new committee of the Council, calling for action to tackle the congestion at the Barnton Junction.
We know the junction is already gridlocked at peak periods and this is before the plans for almost 700 new homes at Cammo.
At this month’s North West Locality Committee and in response to our motion, Council officials agreed to look at a series of improvements and changes to try and improve flow.
Yellow “no waiting” hatching paint marking will be painted on the junction to try and prevent vehicle blocking. Officials will also look at the option of building in a third southbound lane on Whitehouse Road and a third northbound lane on Maybury Road.
We are pleased that Council officers have now agreed to consider a number of changes to the junction. These could certainly help to ease some of the congestion in the short term. However, we know there are much bigger and wider issues that need to be addressed and before potentially thousands of new homes are built nearby.
It is clear we need a proper strategic plan for the whole A90 corridor. It must look seriously at public transport improvements and how current and new bus services can be prioritised along the A90. We also need to open discussions with other councils like Fife where decisions around charging for park and rides will only add to the congestion we face.
We also want to say a huge thank you and well done to the chair and secretary of the Cramond and Barnton Community Council who attended the committee and gave a presentation on why action at the Barnton junction is so desperately needed.