NORTH-East Conservative MSP Alex Johnstone, the party's prospective candidate in West Aberdeenshire and Kincardine for the forthcoming General Election, has written to Transport Minister Stewart Stevenson asking him to include the upgrading of the dangerous A90/A937 junction at Laurencekirk in the contract and funding arrangements for the Aberdeen Western Peripheral Route.
The MSP said that this course of action could break the "funding deadlock" over Laurencekirk's "dangerous" junction and would mean that the work could be carried out quickly and at a lower cost than if it were to be tackled as a stand alone project
.
Publishing his letter to Stewart Stevenson, Mr Johnstone said: "I have today written to the Transport Minister with the proposal that improvements to the junction of the A937 with the A90 at Laurencekirk should be included in the contracts for the Aberdeen Western Peripheral Route.
"I have not made this suggestion lightly. I believe that it is now the only way to deliver this vital safety improvement in the foreseeable future.
"This course of action will save lives and improve road access to this expanding Mearns community.
"Everyone, from the transport minister down, knows that this junction needs to be replaced but no one, so far, has made any proposal as to how it can be realised.
"This is a serious proposal and it could be the last best option to deliver this vital safety improvement quickly and at an affordable price."
Meanwhile, West Aberdeenshire & Kincardine MSP Mike Rumbles has welcomed the news that the Transport Minister is to be summoned before the Scottish Parliament's Public Petitions Committee on Tuesday March 2.
The Minister has been called to respond to Jill Campbell's petition calling for a flyover to be built on the A90 at Laurencekirk.
Mr Rumbles says that he is looking forward to quizzing the Minister on his reasons for refusing to build a flyover.
Mike Rumbles said: "This will be a very welcome opportunity to question the Transport Minister Stewart Stevenson on his reasons for refusing to build a flyover on the A90 at Laurencekirk.
"The figures obtained by Jill Campbell from Grampian Police made the case for a flyover absolutely clear. The figures show that the average cost of dealing with a fatal road accident is £1,979,078, and that the cost of a flyover would be £4 million. Given the number of serious and fatal accidents we have had at this location it is clear that building a flyover is a 'no-brainer'
"The Minister will be forced to respond to this clear evidence on March 2."
