Following years of campaigning to raise the awareness of the poor condition and general unsuitability of the A82 for both business and tourism, Lochaber Chamber of Commerce has welcomed the summit announced by Transport Minister, Humza Yousaf to discuss the future of the second longest road in Scotland.
The A82 links the central belt to the North West and Western Isles and is a vital artery for Scottish business all of whom are severely impacted by the lack of investment in this important infrastructure.
Within the recent past, the only major investments along the length of the A82 have been two projects: the £9.2 million investment at Pulpit Rock which led to the removal of the ‘temporary’ traffic lights which had been in place for more than 30 years; and a £5million investment in a single carriageway by-pass around Crianlarich. Since 2007 more than £82 million has additionally been spent on maintenance. However, when compared to the current upgrades to the A9, which is only slightly longer and where a total of £3 billion is being spent, the A82 comes second by a long way.
Lesley Benfield, CEO Lochaber Chamber of Commerce said that “whilst we welcome the discussion which the summit will bring, it is vital that action is taken, and taken quickly, to support the large businesses which operate in and around Fort William” she went on to say “Marine Harvest, BSW, Ferguson Transport and Shipping have all recently announced major expansion plans in the area. Additionally, the Liberty Smelter in Fort William, which is under new ownership, has development plans which aim to create a significant number of new jobs which will necessitate new housing as well as supporting infrastructure, and there is a new retail park under construction. All of these will put the A82 under even more pressure.”
Whilst the infrastructure around Fort William cannot sustain the increasing volume of traffic it is experiencing, the concerns relating to the A82 are not confined to the Lochaber region but extend right along its length. Lochaber, as The Outdoor Capital of the UK, attracts tourists from all over the world. The road is too narrow for both the volume of traffic and types of vehicles, and there are insufficient stopping places to either allow traffic to overtake slower moving vehicles, or to allow visitors to stop safely and appreciate the views.
Lesley Benfield continued “Lochaber is a vibrant area of the Highlands which is experiencing high growth levels of tourism and business investment, it would be a shame if the forthcoming Summit this June falls short of expectations and there is a further delay in the relevant parties being able to take immediate action to improve the infrastructure so badly need. On behalf of our members we sincerely hope that the Minister will act accordingly”
