Scotland 'back to normal'

Transport Minister Stewart Stevenson today thanked travel operators for helping thousands of Scots get home following the recent closures of Europe's airspace due to the volcanic ash cloud.

Additional capacity for around 7,000 more train passengers was provided each day on both First ScotRail and cross-border rail services during the disruption, while bus operators have carried more than 9,000 extra passengers.

Ferry operators also responded to increased demand, including Northlink, which agreed with the Scottish Government to despatch the MV Hamnavoe to Norway to bring 157 stranded British nationals, including 17 children and 4 infants, to Aberdeen.

The Homecoming Helpline, set up by the Scottish Government last week to provide travel, visa, health and other advice to Scots stranded abroad, received more than 2,100 calls, with over 700 taken by call handlers for more detailed assistance.

At this morning's eleventh meeting of the Cabinet sub-committee of SGoRR (Scottish Government Resilience Room), it was decided to move to a 'stand-by' mode, with no further daily ministerial meetings scheduled but remaining ready to put contingency measures in place in the event of future disruption.

Mr Stevenson said:

"The SGoRR Cabinet sub-committee met today for the eleventh time during this incident. We received updates from the various agencies monitoring and responding to the impact of the volcanic ash cloud that closed much of Europe's airspace at different points over the last two weeks. Clearly, as the plume coming from the volcano and the seismic activity continues, the monitoring will go on at regular intervals.

"With thousands of Scots having now returned home following the initial airspace closure, demand for extra land and sea travel capacity has subsided and normal services have resumed across all transport modes. I want to thank all of those operators who moved quickly to lay on additional bus, train and ferry services to help Scots return home.

"At today's meeting we agreed to schedule no further daily ministerial meetings of SGoRR, while of course we remain ready to put our tried and tested contingency measures in place in the event of future disruption.

"Officials from Scottish Resilience and our other Directorates are continuing to liaise closely with the Met Office, National Air Traffic Service (NATS) and other key agencies to ensure that should the ash cloud return, we remain ready to invoke the arrangements that have worked so successfully over the past fortnight."

Bids sought for vital South West Scotland road project

Construction companies are being offered the opportunity to bid for a multi-million pound A77 carriageway widening project that will deliver improvements on this vital route to the Stranraer and Cairnryan ferry ports.

The tender notice for the A77 Parkend to Bennane upgrade, issued today, is the first stage in the procurement process for this vital south-west Scotland scheme.

Stewart Stevenson, Transport Minister said:

“Following our announcement just last week regarding £76 million of funding to support employment and boost Scotland's economy, we have moved swiftly to deliver this key project milestone.

“It is vital that visitors – both commercial and tourists – see that Scotland is open for business and greater access to and from our ports at Stranraer and Cairnryan will bring significant benefits.

“Ensuring better traffic flow is a key part of this, and today is another step forward in our work to upgrade the A77. With £29 million of investment already delivered on the A77 and the A75, and a further £60 million committed in our current programme, we can ensure the long term sustainable economic growth of both businesses and communities across south west Scotland.”

The upgrade includes the creation over 2.5 miles of overtaking opportunities on the A77 north of Ballantrae and will significantly improve traffic flow on this key south west route connecting the ports with the central belt.

When completed, the Scheme will support businesses, communities and tourism throughout Scotland by improving the access to and from the ports of Stranraer and Cairnryan by providing additional guaranteed overtaking opportunities in both directions and reducing journey times and the number of convoys from ferry traffic.

The tender process is expected to be completed by autumn 2010 and it is anticipated work can start on site soon after for an expected opening in spring 2011. Advance works will be carried out later this year.

The 86 mile long A77 is a main link for south west communities and businesses, and this section of the route carries up to 3000 vehicles a day.

Ongoing A77 schemes include:

• A77 Park End – Benane: this scheme is programmed to start in 2010/11, and is anticipated to be completed in 2011/12
• A77 Burnside Improvement: Draft Road Orders for this scheme are to be published 2 March 2010. Draft Compulsory Purchase Orders (CPO’s) are to follow 3 weeks later, and subject to any objections received and the completion of statutory procedures construction is programmed to commence towards the end of Financial Year 2010/11 with anticipated construction completion by the end of Financial Year 2011/12
• A77 Drummuckloch – Innermessan: Draft orders were published in March 2010; and subject to the completion of statutory procedures the scheme is programmed to start in 2010/11, with an anticipated construction completion in 2011/12
• A77 Ardwell – Slockenray: Draft orders are currently programmed to be published in 2010; and subject to the completion of statutory procedures the scheme is programmed to start in 2010/11, with an anticipated construction completion in 2011/12
• A77 Symington and Bogend Toll: Scheme is currently waiting the outcome of the Public Local Inquiry and is programmed to start in 2010/11, with an anticipated construction completion in 2011/12.

Bids sought for A9 dualling project

A multi million pound project that will deliver an additional length of dual carriageway on the A9 at Crubenmore took a significant step forward today with the publication of the tender notice.

The issue of this notice is the first stage in the procurement process for this vital road improvement scheme.

The project includes the construction of almost two miles of dual carriageway and will provide improved overtaking opportunities on the A9 to the north of Crubenmore. The works will also significantly improve traffic flow on this key route connecting central Scotland to the Highlands.

Transport Minister, Stewart Stevenson said:

“Following our announcement just last week regarding £76 million of funding to support employment and boost Scotland's economy, we have moved swiftly to deliver this key project milestone.

“The project is a further example of our commitment to dualling the A9 on a progressive basis. This investment will bring significant benefits to commercial and tourist traffic through more reliable journey times to and from the north“

The tender process is expected to be completed by Autumn 2010 and it is anticipated work can start on site soon thereafter, with an expected completion in late 2011. Some advance works may be carried out later this year.

When completed, the Scheme will support businesses, communities and tourism throughout Scotland by improving the access to and from Inverness and the Highlands, giving additional guaranteed overtaking opportunities in both directions and reducing both journey times and the number of convoy incidences.

Other A9 projects are progressing as follows:

• A9 Moy - the £2.3m project, currently under construction, will deliver 1.06 km of a new northbound overtaking lane, with associated drainage, surfacing and safety fencing improvements. The scheme is expected to last approximately 12 weeks
• £9.5m (estimated) Kincraig to Dalraddy (Made Road Orders & Compulsory Purchase Orders published October 2009)
• £8.5m (estimated) Crubenmore (Made Road Orders, Compulsory Purchase Orders published November 2009)
• £4.2m (estimated) Slochd (Draft Road Orders to be published by end of financial year 09/10 followed by Compulsory Purchase Order)
• £2.7m Carrbridge (completed and opened in June 2009)
• £2.7m Bankfoot (completed and opened in August 2009)
• £15m Ballinluig (completed and opened in May 2008)