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Scotsman
25-06-2025
- Automotive
- Scotsman
10 of Scotland's most notorious roundabouts - the trickiest and most congested
Roundabouts are among nervous drivers' most feared junctions. They require skill and judgment as to when to safely pull out, get in the correct lane and then exit, all while remaining aware of other vehicles, which may be all around you. Scotland-based road safety consultant Neil Greig gives his assessment of ten of the country's most notorious roundabouts, with additional comments from AA motoring group staff based north of the Border - performance leader Bob Drummond and patroller John Carroll. There's also collision data from analysts CrashMap Mr Greig said: 'In general, roundabouts have been shown to be safer than traffic light intersections, but they have their traffic design limits, and these busy junctions show what happens when you exceed them. 'Regular peak time congestion and long delays if minor disruptions occur leads to unneeded pollution and cost to the Scottish economy. 'The Scottish Government has now abandoned its ridiculous traffic reduction targets, but need to provide solutions for these key junctions as they are only going to get worse.' Nicholas Lyes, director of policy and standards for motoring group IAM RoadSmart, said: 'When constructed well and properly maintained, roundabouts tend to be a far more efficient way in managing traffic at junctions than lights. 'But in recent years, poor maintenance hasn't only resulted in more potholes on Scotland's roads, but also faded line markings, which can cause a few issues for vehicle positioning when approaching and merging into roundabouts. 'Anticipation and positioning are two key skills for safely navigating roundabouts, but poor maintenance has made the latter far more difficult.' A spokesperson for the Scottish Government's Transport Scotland agency, which is responsible for roundabouts on trunk roads, said: 'The second Strategic Transport Projects Review considered the need for major investment across the whole of Scotland's trunk road network as part of the accompanying transport appraisal that was completed in 2022. 'The conclusion of the appraisal did not recommend any significant upgrade to Broxden, Inveralmond, Hermiston Gait or Stoneymollan junctions. 'Instead, and in line with our Sustainable Investment Hierarchy (SIH), the recommendation was that future investment should be focused on maintaining the existing assets. 'This is in line with the SIH rationale for investment in transport infrastructure projects, which is to prioritise maintaining and make best use of our existing transport assets, over building new infrastructure.' 1 . Hermiston Gait - M8 and A720 Edinburgh City Bypass Junction at the eastern end of M8 under the bypass, seen from the exit from the shopping centre. The Crashmap collision analysis website recorded 23 incidents between 2019 and 2023, one fatal and three serious (latest available data). Bob Drummond: 'The biggest issue is coming from the retail park - the left lane up to the Calder roundabout is not traffic-light controlled but people stop when they see the traffic lights are red for the other three lanes. The second lane goes to the bypass but many people go straight ahead towards the M8, driving into the third lane, not realising.' Neil Greig: 'What's the point of a motorway between Glasgow and Edinburgh if it ends at a congested roundabout that can't cope with peak flows? 'A full free-flow interchange for M8 traffic heading on to the bypass should have been provided years ago.' Transport Scotland said no significant upgrade was planned. | Google Street View Photo Sales 2 . Broxden - M90 and A9 in Perth The junction at the north end of the M90 with the A9 on the west side of the city, seen from the M90 northbound. The Crashmap collision analysis website recorded 16 incident between 2019 and 2023, six serious (latest available data). Neil Greig: 'This is really showing some strain as a pinch point for growing traffic levels to Aberdeen and Inverness. 'Dedicated slip lanes north on the A9 and south on the M90 would help.' Bob Pentland: 'At peak times, it's difficult to get on to the roundabout due to the volume of traffic coming from the M9 and A9.' Transport Scotland said no significant upgrade was planned. | Google Street View Photo Sales 3 . Sheriffhall - A720 Edinburgh City Bypass The only roundabout on the bypass - a six-way junction including with A7. The Crashmap collision analysis website recorded 15 incidents between 2019 and 2023, one serious (latest available data). Transport Scotland's plans to replace it with a flyover have been delayed by a public inquiry. Neil Greig: 'The old classic - it's an embarrassment that Edinburgh does not have a full grade separated bypass to keep traffic out of the city. 'Sheriffhall is stifling the economy, and with Midlothian developing fast it can only get worse.' Bob Pentland: 'Volume of traffic seems to be biggest issue but the lane cat's eyes are good.' Transport Scotland: 'We are committed to delivering the grade separation of the roundabout. We continue to progress the proposed scheme through the statutory process so we can deliver improvements at this key junction as soon as possible. 'Following the public local inquiry for the scheme, the Reporter's conclusions and recommendations have been submitted to the Scottish Government. This is under active consideration by officials before advice is provided to ministers and a decision is made on the scheme.' | Traffic Scotland Photo: Traffic Scotland Photo Sales 4 . Pollok - south side of Glasgow The junction of Brockburn Road, Braidburn Road, the B762 and Peat Road. The Crashmap collision analysis website recorded six incidents, one serious between 2019 and 2023 (latest available data). Neil Greig: 'A five-way dodgem circuit with fast traffic and multiple lanes.' John Carroll: 'Five roads merging at this one, no traffic control on it. It can be one of the busiest roundabouts in the area.' | Google Street View Photo Sales
Scotsman
30-04-2025
- Automotive
- Scotsman
Scotland's newest bridge will close for 3 hours for large ships to pass
Sign up for the latest news and analysis about Scottish transport Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to The Scotsman, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... Scotland's newest bridge will close to traffic for up to three hours to allow ships to pass, The Scotsman has learned. Renfrew Bridge, the only opening road crossing on the Clyde, is expected to shut on average around once every two weeks, when large vessels head up the river into Glasgow. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Renfrew Bridge is the first opening road crossing on the Clyde | John Devlin/The Scotsman The bridge is due to open to traffic between Renfrew and Clydebank on Friday, May 9 - three miles from the Clyde Tunnel, the nearest upstream crossing, and five miles from the Erskine Bridge downstream. The three-hour closures will be required when 'category one' ships sail east upstream - vessels longer than 160m or 23m wide (beam) - because of their size and stopping distance. Renfrewshire Council said such lengthy bridge openings were 'anticipated to be infrequent'. The local authority said there had been 92 such incidences in the past four years - the equivalent of one every 16 days. But the council said such vessels sailing west, downstream, would require the bridge to open only at least 30 minutes before they passed the crossing, because they would notify officials before leaving dock. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad It said opening times for smaller vessels would be 'significantly less'. The bridge's opening mechanism was first tested in August last year. The council said information about bridge closures for road traffic would be be posted as early as possible on digital traffic signs in the surrounding area, and on the council website, to alert drivers and cyclists to use alternative routes. Its spokesperson said: 'The new Renfrew Bridge is an operational bridge across the River Clyde and will need to close to road traffic and active travel on occasion to allow for passing vessels on the waterway. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad The bridge will connect Renfrew with Clydebank | John Devlin/The Scotsman 'The number of three-hour closures required for category one vessels will be infrequent, with closures for all other vessels being significantly shorter. 'Each period of closure will depend on the tide, other environmental factors and the type of vessel. Traffic management plans are in place to ensure any closures are communicated in advance and alternative routes can be used.' READ MORE: The Clyde could become a transport of delight again Scotland-based road safety consultant Neil Greig said: 'Most bridge users will accept the odd closure as a reasonable price to pay for the improved access that the crossing brings. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad 'However, information will need to be a lot more detailed than just 'on occasion', with accurate information on the timings and duration of any disruption made available at bridge entry points.' The 184m span between Meadowside Street in Renfrew and Dock Street in Clydebank is of a similar cable stay design to the Queensferry Crossing, with its twin-leaf structure opening horizontally. The crossing is the sixth new span across the Clyde over the past four decades following the Govan-Partick Bridge last September, the Squiggly (Tradeston) Bridge in the city centre in 2009, the Squinty Bridge (Clyde Arc) beside the SEC in 2006, the Millennium Bridge beside Glasgow Science Centre in 2002 and the adjacent Bell's Bridge in 1988.
