Issued: 27 September 2005
A92 Arbroath-Dundee Dual Carriageway Open
The A92 Arbroath to Dundee dual carriageway has opened seven months ahead of schedule.
Andrew Welsh MSP removed the last cone from the 19km stretch of the A92 between Elliot in Arbroath and Claypotts in Dundee this morning (Tuesday 27 September 2005), opening all lanes of the new dual carriageway to traffic for the first time.
Angus Council, in association with neighbouring Dundee City Council, undertook the £53million road improvement project to transform the route from a congested single carriageway road with a very poor accident record to a safe and economically advantageous gateway for the area.
The landmark PFI project, the largest roads project undertaken by local government in Scotland, was delivered by contractor Morgan Est within budget and ahead of schedule.
Speaking after the opening ceremony Mr Welsh said he was delighted to see the new dual carriageway open. "I have campaigned to have this stretch of the A92 upgraded for many years so I am delighted that Angus Council in association with Dundee has managed to deliver this important project not only on budget but ahead of schedule.
"The single carriageway had an accident record well over the national average and the unpredictable journey time was inhibiting the area's economic potential. This new dual carriageway is a key part of the infrastructure necessary to ensure sustainable economic growth and in addition provides a safe and smooth route for commuter and visitor traffic."
Provost of Angus Bill Middleton said: "Today's opening is a momentous occasion for all involved in this ambitious project. It is the culmination of years of campaigning and Angus Council, in association with neighbouring Dundee, is proud to have brought such a landmark road improvement project to fruition.
"Angus Council and Dundee City Council chose to upgrade the A92 between Claypotts and Elliot to dual carriageway to improve road safety and promote the economic activity of the area. This long awaited development has achieved both of these objectives - vastly improving the daily commute for thousands of local travellers and opening up exciting new opportunities for tourism and industry in the area."
The Provost commended contractors Morgan Est saying: "It is testament to the excellent working relationship that has existed between client and contractor that this £53m roads improvement project - the largest roads project undertaken by local government in Scotland - has been completed seven months ahead of schedule and within budget."
Dave Hill, project manager with Morgan Est, said: "We achieved the early completion through a combination of factors - namely efficient project management and extended working hours. This allowed us to accelerate the programme of work and I'm delighted we're opening early and that Angus Council is so pleased with the work we've done."
The biggest challenge of the ambitious project was the maintenance of the traffic flow throughout the construction period. The route could not be closed so scores of temporary traffic switches and the construction of temporary crossovers kept the traffic moving 24/7 throughout almost two years of construction.
"Manoeuvring the traffic involved 75 major switches and innumerable smaller ones," explained Dave. "The lack of complaints from road users is evidence of how successful this was and was due to careful planning with Angus Council and the police."
Chief Superintendent Bill Harkins of Tayside Police added his congratulations to the project team saying: "The traffic management of the project was extremely complex but the professionalism and co-operation of all involved ensured that it was achieved safely and effectively.
"Pedestrians and cyclists have also been accommodated along the entire route with a dedicated pathway running parallel to but separated from the main carriageways. This encourages even greater safety on the route and allows everyone to take advantage of it whatever form of transport they use."