Stevenson and Salmond Hail A90 Improvments At Hatton

Commenting at the official opening of the realigned Hatton bends today (Monday) Banff & Buchan MP Alex Salmond and MSP Stewart Stevenson, have hailed the completion of the long delayed improvements to the notorious stretch of the A90.

The £5.5million project to upgrade the accident blackspot took forty-five weeks to complete, though the campaign to secure the road investment goes back over thirty years. Along with Cruden councilor Jim Towers and local residents, Mr Salmond and Mr Stevenson have campaigned constantly to have the works undertaken, and so today's official opening has been claimed as an important local victory. However, Mr Salmond has said that the completion of the project is only the beginning of his party's plans to bring the local roads infrastructure into the twenty-first century – pledging to bring forward plans for the unbroken dualling of the A90 and A96 within the first 100 days of an SNP administration at Holyrood.

Speaking at the official opening of the upgraded stretch, Alex Salmond said:

"Naturally, I am delighted that this notorious stretch of road has at last been straightened. The campaign to have these improvements has been as long and winding as the road itself, and so today's official opening is a massive local victory.

"However, although going some way to addressing the danger and delay that exists on our roads, the completion of this particular project is not enough. We need a proper link between Buchan and the rest of the country to match the industrial importance and potential of our area. I have already put on record my commitment to bringing forward plans to dual the A90 and A96 if elected Scotland's First Minister in May, and I am determined to lead a step-change bringing our transport network into the twenty-first century."

Banff & Buchan MSP Stewart Stevenson who has raised the issue of the Hatton Bends in Parliament on numerous occasions and who was present at today's opening added:

"I am delighted that these works have now finally been completed after pushing successive Transport Ministers for an early start to these works.

"With the prospect of major developments such as the construction of world's first commercial carbon-capture plant at Peterhead Power Station, the ongoing development of St. Fergus Gas Terminal and the prospect of a new prison being built in the area, Banff & Buchan had urgent need of a roads infrastructure built to serve the area's needs, and this is a very important part of that."